Top-25 Earn Their PGA Tour Cards At Web.com Tour Championship

Twenty-five members of the Web.com Tour have been awarded thier 2013 PGA Tour cards after a tense final day at the Web.com Tour Championship at TPC Craig Ranch near Dallas.

Justin Bolli claimed a two-shot victory in the final event, allowing him to make the second biggest leap in Tour history to earn a card the last week of the season, jumping from 44th to 9th. In 2009, Matt Every made the biggest ever move, from 49th to 10th when he won the same event.

Two other players who began the week outside the top-25 also secured their cards. Morgan Hoffmann (31st to 19th) and Doug LaBelle II (26th to 24th) knocked out Camilo Benedetti (25th to 26th), Hudson Swafford (23rd to 27th) and Joseph Bramlett (24th to 28th). Jim Herman hung on to grab the 25th and final spot by just $940 over Benedetti.

After his closing six-under-par 65, Adam Hadwin, who started the week in 48th, thought he might have a chance of earning his card. When he birdied the last hole, Hadwin was tied for second. The computer showed a projected finish of 24th on the money list.

But James Hahn also  birdied the last to finish alone in second. He bumped Hadwin into a tie for third. That difference in prize money dropped Hadwin all the way to 30th on the season-ending money list. “I figured if I finished T2, I’d be in,” Hadwin said after signing his card. “I did everything I could.”

Hoffmann made the largest leap, considering he started the season with no status. Fresh out of Oklahoma State University, he got into events on sponsor’s exemptions and Monday qualifiers. Each top-25 finish earned him a spot in the next event and by Sunday evening, he had earned his card. He fired a 64 to finish tied for third with Hadwin and 19th on the money list.

“It was a huge move, from missing Mondays left and right,” Hoffman said, referring to the qualifiers. “It’s been a great ride. Just getting on a roll and getting into events and finishing in the top 25, it’s a great feeling.”

Eight of the top-10 graduates – and 15 overall – will be first-time members of the PGA Tour.

Casey Wittenberg captured the money title with earnings of $433,453, earning full exemption on the PGA Tour in 2013 and an invitation to The Players Championship in May.

“On behalf of the PGA Tour, I would like to congratulate these 25 terrific players who will launch their Tour careers in January,” said Web.com Tour president Bill Calfee. “It is a very strong group and has the potential to accomplish big things on the PGA Tour, like any number of graduates before them have.

“This class prevailed over a long and very competitive season on the Web.com Tour. We look forward to following their progress as they seek to add to the PGA Tour wins, major championships and the exciting performances their fellow alumni have produced over the years.”