Blackmar, Knox compete in reformatted qualifying event

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A dozen golfers over the age of 50 will be counting their blessings and giving thanks a week before Thanksgiving this year. That's because the final stage of the National Qualifying Tournament will take place on Nov. 18-21, and 12 players will earn status for the 2009 season on the Champions Tour.

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Phil Blackmar is one of 78 players participating in the National Qualifying Tournament.

For the past two years, a top finish at the annual qualifying tournament gave players a chance to compete in weekly qualifying events, which admitted the top nine players into each open tournament during the following season.

The Player Advisory Council and Player Directors changed the format for 2009. The top five finishers at q-school in 2008 will receive fully exempt status for 2009, while the next seven will earn conditional cards.

Several past PGA TOUR winners are in the field at the final stage of q-school, including three-time TOUR winners Phil Blackmar, Gary Hallberg, Mike Hulbert and Kenny Knox.

Blackmar joined the Champions Tour in late 2007 and made an impact in several events in 2008 with top-10 finishes. His best showing came at the Walmart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, when the 6-foot-7 Blackmar -- the tallest golfer on all three Tours -- tied for fourth.

Hallberg debuted at the Bank of America Championship in mid-June and tied for 16th in his first event. Over the next 13 events, he finished inside the top 25 six times and in the top 10 twice, including a tie for second at the 3M Championship.

Hulbert's close friend Joey Sindelar has status for 2009, so Hulbert hopes to join his buddy and fellow Horseheads, N.Y., native back on the 50-and-over circuit in 2009. Hulbert, a rookie in 2008, tied for eighth in his debut at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am and had two other top-25 finishes throughout the year.

Knox's best finish of the 2008 season came in his first event, the Turtle Bay Championship, where he tied for 23rd.

Other multiple PGA TOUR winners who will compete for Champions Tour status at TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, Fla., are Ronnie Black, Donnie Hammond and Mac O'Grady. There are also former Champions Tour winners in the field, like Mark James, John Harris, James Mason and Jim Ahern.

To view the complete 78-player field for the Champions Tour National Qualifying Tournament, click here.