Champions Tour q-school: Meet the 12 graduates

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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.

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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