Troy Merritt leads PGA Tour qualifiers

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Troy Merritt finished at 22-under par in West Palm Beach, Fla., Monday, leading a group of 25 players who earned PGA Tour cards for 2010.

Merritt, 24, of Osage, Iowa, a winner this year on the Nationwide Tour, closed the Q-School qualifying competition with a 3-under 69 for a six-round score of 410.

Three-time PGA Tour winner Jeff Maggert (67) was second at 411, Matt Jones (66) third at 413, Martin Flores (65) fourth at 414 and Neal Lancaster (67) and Brendon de Jonge (66) tied for fifth at 415.

Others who qualified included J.P. Hayes, Jay Williamson, Omar Uresti and Joe Ogilvie, all familar names on the big tour.

Among PGA Tour veterans who failed to earn cards were 13-time winner and former world No. 1 David Duval , 2004 British Open champion Todd Hamilton and Tom Pernice, who won twice on the PGA Tour and once on the Champions Tour.