Five players earn their Champions Tour cards through the Qualifying Tournament
Mark Mouland finished third at the US Champions Tour Qualifying Tournament, to secure one of the five Champions Tour cards that were on offer at TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, Florida.
Mouland, who ranks 14th in the current European Seniors Tour Order of Merit, played 11 Champions Tour events over the last two years. However, he was never fully exempted to play a complete season in the United States.
This year, a strong finish at the qualifying school has made him eligible to play the complete Champions Tour season in 2013.
The veteran Welshman started the day in a tie for the second position, and, under extraordinary pressures, carded an even-par 72, to finish the tournament in seven-under.
Gene Jones, in the meantime, won the tournament after firing a 13-under par overall score. Entering the final round, he held a four-shot lead over Mouland.
He then stretched his lead to five strokes, entering the final nine holes of the tournament.
However, he gave some room to his opponents in the field by showing inconsistency on the 12th and the 13th hole for the second time in the tournament. He conceded a bogey and a double bogey, respectively, which sliced his lead to only one stroke.
"I had the same problem on 12 and 13 again as I did yesterday. You just never know what's going to happen. I put two bad swings on it and I probably should have hit three-wood on both of those, but its Tour school and you just can't let up at any time,"
Jones said.
He added, "No matter how old you get, q-school is still a bear, but I've done it before and I felt pretty good when I started”.
He then picked up pace and added shots on the 16th and the 17th hole to finish the tournament on a high note.
Jeff Brehaut of the United States, in the meantime, took the second spot on the leaderboard, following a 10-under par tournament score.
The American will have to wait six months to make his debut on the 50-and-over tour, as he will not turn 50 until June 13.
Jim Rutledge and John Reigger were the other two players who made it into the top-five on the leaderboard, and earned their cards for the 2013 Champions Tour season.
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