Former California state amateur champion Mark Johnson, who drove a Budweiser truck for 18 years, fired an 8-under 64 on Monday to earn medalist honors at the Champions Tour National Qualifying Tournament. He finished the six-round marathon at 25-under-par 407 and won by two over Tom McKnight at The King & The Bear Course.
McKnight is a former amateur standout and went even lower with a 9-under 63 on Monday. Former PGA Tour event winner Brad Bryant shot a 5-under 67 and took third place at 22-under-par 410.
The full list of qualifiers are:
1. Mark Johnson -25 2. Tom McKnight -23 3. Brad Bryan -22 4. Hajime Meshiai -20 4. Don Reese -20 4. R.W. Eaks -20 7. Pat McGowan -19
Pat McGowan ended up tied with Norm Jarvis, but won a playoff in an extra session because only the top seven finishers earned full exempt status for the 2005 season. The players who finished eighth through 15th got conditional cards for next year.
8. Norm Jarvis -19 9. Des Smyth -18 9. Lonnie Nielsen -18 11. Gary Robison -17 12. Dick Mast -16 13. John Ross -15 13. Mike Ferguson -15 15. Mike San Filippo -14
Mike San Filippo won a playoff for the final conditional spot. He outlasted Champions Tour player Jim Ahern and Canadian Daniel Talbot as the three tied at 14-under-par 418.