FINAL ROUND - Canadian Tour Florida Q-School

Thomas moved into a cozy six-stroke lead following a dominating third round Wednesday (68-71-65-70) and and was not challenged by American runner-up Jason Anthony who closed with a 68.

Sharing third spot at six under 282 are Jason Kang (68), Brett Lederer (69) and Joseph Greiner (720. Tyler Harris closed with a 73 but it was only good enough for five under 283 and solo sixth place while Ciaran McMonagle was alone in seventh at 284 after a 70.

The battle for the final two exempt spots at 285 was won by Ryan Panichpakdee and John McLean who defeated Barry O'Neill.

Earning non-exempt cards are O'Neill, Joe Johnson, Nemanja Savic, Jim Fitzpatrick, Brian Benedictson, Matt Johnston, Trey Denton, Casey Watabu, Brad Tilley and Lucas Lee.

Starting his day with three consecutive birdies, Thomas, the 2005 Welsh Amateur champion coasted, home in 70 to pick up $2,000 and his Canadian Tour ticket for 2009..

"Yeah, I'm feeling pretty good and played really well," he smiled. "I was able to come here three weeks ago and practice out here a few times. It was my putting that made the big difference this week.

"I didn't want to think about the big lead I had today, I just wanted to go out and make some birdies. I was fortunate to have a fast start and then was able to relax.

"This Tour comes highly recommended from a lot of players," said Thomas, "and once I heard that, I wanted to come out here to continue my progress."

With a Tour card in his back pocket, the rugby fanatic is returning to Wales to cheer the home side at Six Nations.

"We're playing Ireland on Saturday and I want to be there," he said. "I hope we give it to them good but I think it will be a close match with us winning."

Brian Benedictson achieved a measure of redemption. Losing his card last year and failing to advance through the Fall Q-School, the Comox, B.C., native earned non-exempt status with his performance this week.

"It was a matter of staying in the moment and taking it one shot at a time," said Benedictson. "At a tournament like this, the mind has a tendency to wander to things past and the future because of what is at stake.

"While I did leave some shots out there this week, I am happy with how I played."

Benedictson tried something different this winter to prepare him for the season. "I worked with a coach for the first time ever," he explained.

"I also made sure I was better prepared mentally for the pressure of Q-School this time.

Fellow Canadian Matt Johnston began the third round tied for the lead but consecutive 75s dropped him to non-exempt status.

"I'm not sure why but I just didn't play well the last two days," said Johnston. "There is a lot of pressure here but it wasn't nerves as much as it was simply hitting bad shots."

"I knew I didn't have my good stuff today so I just bore down and did it. It was a great learning week under some very intense pressure.

Johnston's Q-School pressure is finished, fo now, however, he's anxious to achieve full Tour status, so he's on his way to next week's California Q-School at Carlton Oaks.

The record for he largest winning margin of victory at a Canadian Tour QA-School is 12 set by Adam Kase in 1987.

2009 CANADIAN TOUR EXEMPT STATUS
Ryan Thomas
Jason Anthony
Jason Kang
Brett Lederer
Joseph Greiner
Tyler Harris
Ciaran McMonagle
Ryan Panichpakdee
John McLean

Non-Exempt Status in order of Rank
Barry O'Neill
Joe Johnson
Nemanja Savic
Jim Fitzpatrick
Brian Benedictson
Matt Johnston
Trey Denton
Casey Watabu
Brad Tilley
Lucas Lee

Florida Winter Qualifying School Final Scores
6,885-yard, par-72 Silverthorn Country Club & 7,557-yard, par 72 Southern Hills Plantation
Canadians in BOLD - (a-denotes amateur):

Ryan Thomas, $2000 68-71-65-70-----274
Jason Anthony 70-71-71-68-----280
Jason Kang 75-67-72-68-----282
Brett Lederer 75-69-69-69-----282
Joseph Greiner 65-72-73-72-----282
Tyler Harris 71-71-68-73-----283
Ciaran McMonagle 70-75-69-70-----284
Ryan Panichpakdee 71-72-72-70-----285
John McLean 70-71-72-72-----285
Barry O'Neill 78-67-66-74-----285
Nemanja Savic 69-74-72-71-----286
Joe Johnson 72-68-72-74-----286
Jim Fitzpatrick 74-74-72-67-----287
Brian Benedictson 70-74-70-73-----287
Matt Johnston 66-71-75-75-----287
Trey Denton 75-72-74-67-----288
Brad Tilley 72-69-78-69-----288
Casey Watabu 75-71-72-70-----288
Lucas Lee 71-68-75-74-----288
David Hufham 71-73-74-71-----289
Michael Nicoletti 72-71-75-71-----289
Rhett Colbrese 67-75-75-72-----289
Jesse Barnsley 72-71-73-73-----289
Jonathan James 71-76-73-70-----290
Mark Maue 77-71-72-70-----290
Jacob Scriven 76-72-71-71-----290
Derek Oakey 75-72-71-73-----291
Clay Kitchen 75-67-76-73-----291
Cennydd Mills 75-72-73-71-----291
Isaac Weintraub 68-74-74-75-----291
Michael O'Neal 71-76-73-72-----292
Justin Regier 77-68-76-71-----292
Clay Fullick 74-71-73-74-----292
Erik Olson 71-71-73-77-----292
Dillon Gooch 73-72-75-73-----293
Chris Griffin 73-73-75-72-----293
John Kelly 75-74-74-70-----293
Tom Bittner 73-77-73-70-----293
Brian Hadley 72-71-75-76-----294
Marc Bourgeois 72-73-77-72-----294
Carl Wakely 70-75-73-76-----294
Simon McGreal 77-69-70-78-----294
Greg McAuley 73-72-75-75-----295
Mark Sider 72-74-75-74-----295
Elliott Wainwright 74-72-72-77-----295
Andrew Jensen 70-77-78-70-----295
Rodney Hamblin 73-74-79-69-----295
Nick Mazze 75-75-75-71-----296
Brad Ward 72-78-76-70-----296
Jeffrey Rangel 73-71-75-78-----297
Collin Neeman 72-71-79-75-----297
Jacob Sewell (a) 74-78-69-77-----298
Nick Kenny 74-72-76-76-----298
Charlie Simpson 76-77-73-72-----298
Kyle Hansen 76-75-77-70-----298
Denny Lucas 73-71-78-77-----299
John Arnette 71-72-82-74-----299
Kyler Murphy 74-77-74-74-----299
Terry O'Brien 75-74-73-78-----300
Tim Lynch 74-72-81-73-----300
Eric Couture 77-78-72-74-----301
Lee French 79-76-72-76-----303
Ollie Dunn 74-75-78-78-----305
Dane Thorogood (a) 75-81-76-73-----305
David Walker 75-78-74-80-----307
Tai Gyu Kang 85-73-77-75-----310
Mark Zanotti 75-79-82-75-----311
Mark Maundrell 77-84-85-76-----322
Jin Ko 77-85-80-81-----323
Scott Yancy 81-88-80-82-----331