Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño (-14) made a big step toward recovering the PGA Tour card for next season. The Madrid native finished out the Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco in ninth place. After these results, he now stands in eighth place on the winnings list of the Final Series after two tournaments, and above all, he’s accumulated a total of 41,500 dollars. In other words, midway through the Series he’s got the card at an arm’s length distance.
If we go back and look at what was needed in the three previous years in order to end up in the top 25 on the winnings list of the Final Series, it would mean that in the worst case scenario, Gonzalo would make it with a total of three thousand dollars more to close the deal. In all three of those years, the highest number needed to make the top 25 was 44,271 dollars in 2013. Which means, anything in the top 45 in one of the two tournaments left would just about do it.
Be that as it may, it’s not only important to be among the top 25, but also to place well in the final rankings to be able to make it into as many tournaments as possible next year. Thus, Gonzalo, once he makes it to the top, will attempt to finish in the highest position possible in the Final Series in order to earn a higher ‘quality’ card in the PGA Tour, at least before the re-rankings begin.
Gonzalo finalized his participation on the Hillcrest CC course in Idaho after having shot a commendable 68. He played all four days below 70 and, what’s more, he ended up with two birdies on the last four holes, one of which was on the 18th, which completely changed his situation in the rankings. A remarkable effort which paid off in full, although he’s still got to finish the job.
Next week he’ll play in the third playoff of the Final Series, the Nationwide Children’s Championship held in Ohio.
