WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Boise State alumni Troy Merritt and Graham DeLaet punched their tickets to next year’s PGA Tour with outstanding performances at the 2009 PGA TOUR National Qualifying Tournament to earn their first ever cards. The Bronco duo entered the final day ranked one-two on the leaderboard with Merritt leading Graham by two strokes. Merritt won the event Monday afternoon with a 3-under 69 to finish with a six-round event total of 22-under-par 410. DeLaet slipped a bit but finished tied for eighth place with a 15-under 417. The top 25 finishers at the tournament earned cards on the PGA TOUR for 2010.
Merritt finished the six day event by recording a double bogey on the final hole today, but in the end he still finished one stroke ahead of TOUR veteran Jeff Maggert who took second-place.
“Probably the most satisfying double-bogey I’ve ever made,” Merritt said.
Merritt earned $50,000 for medalist his honors as he became only the third player ever to win the q-school by leading after each round.
“The trophy is to get to play with the big boys next year,” Merritt said.
DeLaet the 2009 Canadian Tour champion will join Merritt on the PGA Tour next year by tying for eighth place.
