Dec. 12, 2010
Twelve players earned status on the Champions Tour for 2011 through q-school Nov. 16-19 at TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, Fla. The top five finishers earned full exemptions -- Keith Clearwater (medalist), Frankie Minoza, Phil Blackmar, Lee Rinker and John Morse. The next seven finishers are conditionally exempt for 2011 -- Roger Chapman, Robert Thompson, Mark Mouland, Jim Rutledge, Steve Haskins, J.L. Lewis and Fred Holton.
Meet the 2010 graduates of Champions Tour q-school below.
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| No. 1: Keith Clearwater |
| Medalist at q-school by three strokes was a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR with both wins coming in 1987 (Colonial National Invitation and Centel Open). Keith Clearwater |
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| No. 2: Frankie Minoza |
| Veteran of the Japan Golf Tour and the Asian Tour with victories in more than a half dozen countries, finished 2nd at Champions Tour q-school. Frankie Minoza |
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| No. 3: Phil Blackmar |
| The three-time winner on the PGA TOUR and winner of the 2009 AT&T Championship in his native Texas played 22 Champions Tour events in 2010 and finished 63rd on the money list. Phil Blackmar |
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| No. 4: Lee Rinker |
| The former head pro at Trump International Golf Club and veteran of both the PGA TOUR and the Nationwide Tour wrapped up a fully-exempt spot with a T2 finish at q-school. Lee Rinker |
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| No. 5: John Morse |
| A long-time competitor on the PGA TOUR and Nationwide Tour, this former TOUR winner secured the fifth fully-exempt spot at q-school in 2010. John Morse |
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| No. 6: Roger Chapman |
| This longtime European Tour player beat Padraig Harrington in a playoff in 2000, then went on to become a Rules Official before playing the European Senior Tour. Roger Chapman |
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| No. 7: Robert Thompson |
| This medalist of the 2008 Champions Tour q-school and member of the PGA TOUR in the '80s recently won the PGA Senior Professional title. Robert Thompson |
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| No. 8: Mark Mouland |
| This native of Wales won't turn 50 until April, but when he hits the Champions Tour, he will fall back onto his experience of 200 European Tour events. Mark Mouland |
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| No. 9: Jim Rutledge |
| This Canadian will get another shot at the Champions Tour after a 14-start year in 2010. Rutledge's last victory was the 2006 ING New Zealand PGA Championship on the Nationwide Tour. Jim Rutledge |
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| No. 10: Steve Haskins |
| This son of an NCAA champion basketball coach finished T2 at last year's q-school and made 14 starts in 2010 including a T6 at the AT&T Championship. Steve Haskins |
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| No. 11: J.L. Lewis |
| This two-time PGA TOUR winner joined the Champions Tour in July and will compete in his first full season on the over-50 tour in 2011. J.L. Lewis |
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| No. 12: Fred Holton |
| This Alabama club pro competed in seven events in 2010 but had to go back to q-school to earn conditional status for the 2011 season. Fred Holton |
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