SCOTTSDALE: Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee shot a brilliant final round nine-under-par 62 to earn full exempt status for the 2020 PGA Tour Champions (senior tour) after he finished second in the qualifying tournament final stage on Friday.
The three-time Asian Tour No. 1 and eight-time European Tour winner entered the last day outside the top-five which rewards players with full playing rights on the Champions and Thongchai, the first Thai player to play in the Presidents Cup in 2015, made the biggest final-round jump as he improved from T11 overnight to second with a 16-under total.
He carded five birdies and two eagles on the ninth and 17th holes in his final round. He had carded earlier scores of 67, 71 and 68.
Shane Bertsch made a six-foot par putt on the 18th hole to complete a final-round 65 and pip Thongchai by one stroke with a 17-under total.
Apart from Bertsch and Thongchai, the next three players on the leaderboard are Sweden's Robert Karlsson, Robin Byrd and Australia's Stephen Leaney.
Karlsson was the 54-hole leader and earned one of the five cards after a final-round 69 gave him a third-place finish at 14-under.
An 11-time winner on the European Tour, Karlsson was selected by Padraig Harrington to be a vice captain at the 2020 Ryder Cup.
Thongchai, the leading career money earner on the Asian Tour, won first stage in California by three shots with a four-day score of 13-under.
He turned in rounds of 61-73-71-66, making eight birdies and an eagle to turn in the opening round 61.
He has been a staple on the Asian Tour for a long time, collecting 13 wins, second most all-time behind countryman Thaworn Wiratchant. He also has eight career wins on the European Tour.
The Thai legend turned 50 last month.
"I am very excited. I worked well with my coach and caddie this week. When you have a good tee shot, you have a chance. I am very proud with this 62 and I played well. I putted a lot better today," Thongchai said.
"I turned 50 this year and I'll try to enjoy it although I'll have to do things differently now. Hopefully I'll enjoy next year."
Jazz eyes Indonesian title
Meanwhile, newly crowned Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand plans to head into the holiday season on an even higher note as he readies himself for the Indonesian Masters, which starts on Thursday.
Jazz, who will be the highest-ranked player in the field at 59th place on the world rankings, closed with a sensational eagle-three to finish runner-up at the highly acclaimed Royale Jakarta Golf Club 12 months ago.
The 24-year-old Thai is now looking to pick up from where he left off when he returns to one of his favourite hunting grounds, setting his sights on a fifth Asian Tour title and a third one this season.
"I am looking forward to seeing everyone next week," said Jazz, who will be making his sixth appearance in the Indonesian Masters next week.
"It has been a good season for me overall. I took advantage of my opportunities and made the best of them. Winning in Singapore at the start of the season opened doors for me and that was definitely the highlight of the year for me."