Nick Taylor
Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., led a total four Canadians who secured status on the Web.com Tour next season. Taylor, the former world number one ranked amateur, carded a bogey-free round of 67 to finish in a tie for 11th on the final day of the six day qualifying school.
Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.c., who began the day outside the top 45, fired nine birdies for a 63 which equalled the low round of the day on the Nicklaus Tournament Course. That enabled him to climb 37 places and finish in a tie for 15th alongside fellow Canadian Albin Choi. The Toronto golfer shot a final round 70.
Cam Burke of New Hamburg, Ont., who started the day just outside the top 10, had an even par 72 which dropped him into a tie for 22nd.
The four will have until the first re-shuffle, which will occur after the eighth tournament of the 2014 Web.com Tour season, to maintain their status. After that, the priority ranking will be reset depending on the money list.
Zack Fischer shot an 8-under 64 to finish first, earning fully-exempt status for the year, assuring himself entry into every Web.com Tour event. It was quite a turnaround for Fischer, who opened with a round of 75 and was sitting 130th in the field of 152 players. Over the remaining five rounds, he shot 34 under par.
"I was just saying a prayer and thanking the Lord for giving me the chance to be here," Fischer said. "It's still really surreal."
Scott Pinckney, who started the day in the lead, shot a 68 to finish second, two strokes behind Fischer. Pinckney and the other players in the top 10 will have full status through the first 12 tournaments.
Among the notables who finished inside the top 45 were Sam Saunders, the grandson of golfing greatArnold Palmer, who tied for 11th.
Justin Shin (tied for 56th) of Maple Ridge, B.C., Devin Carrey (T56) of Surrey, B.C., Derek Gillespie (T67) of Oshawa, Ont., Montreal's Yohann Benson (T95), Eugene Wong (T117) of North Vancouver, Max Gilbert (T136) of St-Georges, Que. and Riley Wheeldon (140th) of Comox, B.C. all have conditional status for next year. They will only get into tournaments if a field cannot be filled with players who finished in the top 45 this past week and the approximately 90 other players who already secured status via their 2013 performance.
The Web.com Tour season gets underway Feb. 6-9 at the Panama Claro Championship in Panama City, Panama.
Files from the Associated Press were used in this report