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Troy Merritt claimed top spot in the US PGA Tour Qualifying School despite a double bogey at the final hole as he secured his tour card for next year.

But major winners David Duval, Todd Hamilton and Shaun Micheel all missed out at Bear Lakes Country Club.

Merritt's three-under-par final round of 69 was enough to see him edge fellow American Jeff Maggert by one stroke at 22 under to claim the winner's medal and a $50,000 prize.

It came after a late scare, but he labelled his last hole of the six-round championship "probably the most satisfying double bogey I've ever made".

He added on the Tour website: "The trophy is to get to play with the big boys next year."

David Lutterus, Shane Bertsch, Cameron Tringale, Spencer Levin and Brent Delahoussaye all qualified after advancing from outside the top 25 with a round remaining.

But Micheel and Duval were well off the pace and Hamilton withdrew before the close to leave the trio among 13 past PGA Tour winners not to secure cards.

The nearest miss among that number was Tom Pernice Jr, who missed out by just a stroke after finding the water at the last hole, while his fellow two-time winner Jonathan Kaye was a further shot back.

James Hahn's dream was ended after a final-hole collapse which saw him four-putt to finish one shot outside the qualifying mark at eight under.