PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Lanto Griffin holed a 40-foot putt for eagle on his first hole that sent him to a 7-under 63 in the final round of Q-school, the leader of the six players who have won the PGA. Tour maps for next year.
Griffin was a 9-under medalist (271), but all that mattered was being in the top five and tied for full status as the PGA Tour goes through sweeping changes that include smaller pelotons from 2025.
Hayden Buckley (67) and former amateur world number one Takumi Kanaya of Japan (69) also managed to qualify. Kanaya made 8-foot par putts on his last two holes.
They were followed at 4-under 276 by Argentina’s Alejandro Tosti (66), Will Chandler (66) and Matthew Riedel (72).
Chandler appeared to be running out of time until he shot 30 on the back nine on the Dye Valley course at TPC Sawgrass. That included a 45-foot eagle putt on the 16th hole that paved the way for a PGA Tour card.
Riedel had his own nervous moments. He was right on the edge when his drive on the difficult par-4 17th turned left and headed down the bank toward the water. But the thickness of Bermuda kept him dry and Riedel managed to salvage par.
On the final hole, Riedel pushed his tee shot away from the water to the left. He missed the green and went 4 feet over the cut. The par putt for his card fell narrowly to the left side of the cup.
Alistair Docherty, tied for the lead going into the fourth and final round, didn’t make a birdie until the 17th hole. He needed one more to get his PGA Tour card for the first time, but his approach went through the green. He shot 73 and missed by one shot.
Players who have not earned cards will have different status levels on the Korn Ferry Tour.
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