LA QUINTA, California, 8 December 2004 — England’s Brian Davis struggled at the finish but claimed top honors here Monday after the dramatic final round of the US PGA Tour’s 108-hole qualifying tournament.

Thirty-five players claimed places on the 2005 US PGA Tour, Davis leading the way with a 17-under par 415 after six rounds in the endurance test to edge American Rob Rashell by a stroke despite a bogey-bogey-double bogey finish. Eight players from outside the United States qualified for next year’s tour, including Australia’s Scott Hend and South Korean Charlie Wi on the cutoff mark of seven-under 425, Wi dropping a tension packed bogey putt at 18 for his spot.

The top 30 finishers and those level 30th captured tour cards while the next 50 settled for berths on the US developmental tour. Some players had to fight through two prior qualifying rounds to reach this make-or-break event.

Davis captured his first tour spot despite his lackluster finish, lacking the tension of those 10 strokes behind him. Ten rivals finished on 425 to make their cards on the number.

Australian David McKenzie and South Africa’s Tjaart van der Walt were the only non-US players among seven who missed a US tour spot by a single stroke on 426, van der Walt after a final-round 72 and McKenzie following a closing 71.

Sweden’s Richard S. Johnson missed his tour card by two shots. England’s Greg Owen, who also made the US tour for the first time, shared fourth on 420, joining four Americans one stroke behind third-place US rival Danny Briggs. Phillip Price of Wales was the only non-US golfer among eight on 423. That group included Joey Snyder, who had played every qualifying event since 1996 but was in the final stage for the first time in seven years.

Japan’s Hideto Tanihara saved his best round of the week for last, firing a final-round 68 to finish on 424 along with Canadians Mario Tiziani and David Hearn, Americans Omar Uresti and Bob Heintz. Hearn struggled to a 77 but holed out on 18 to take his place.

American Craig Barlow, who finished on 425, became the first man since 1990 to qualify after firing a round in the 80s. He opened with an 80 but rallied in the final 90 holes.