Jim

Carter

The one-time PGA TOUR winner turned in a 4-under-par 32-36=68 at the Arnold Palmer Course at Turtle Bay on Oahu. He circled in eagle and five birdies to offset three bogeys, and still needed sudden death to secure a berth in the 144-man field at Waialae Country Club on Thursday. Former PGA TOUR members Alex Aragon (36-32=68; six birdies, two bogeys) and Doug LaBelle II (bogey-free 33-35=68; four birdies) also outlasted Eric Meichtry in the playoff. Nicholas Mason was the medalist with a bogey-free, 5-under 34-33=67. Notables that failed to qualify include Tim Petrovic (69), Steve Allan (69), Tadd Fujikawa (69), Tony Finau (69), Gipper Finau (69), Jason Gore (70), Todd Demsey (70), Frank Lickliter II (72), Troy Merritt (72), Scott Hend (73), Scott Simpson (74), Ted Purdy (74), Bubba Dickerson (74), Dick Mast (75) and Andres Gonzales (78).

Carter has played on the Nationwide and PGA Tours this season. He has made three cuts in three starts, with his best finish being a T-9 on the Nationwide Tour’s Michael Hill New Zealand Open.

He was well outside the list of 10 alternates when the field was released on Friday afternoon, but gained entry with a pair of late withdrawals today. Now 52 years of age, Carter hasn’t cashed on the PGA TOUR since the 2010 Reno-Tahoe Open. He missed the cut at last week’s U.S. Senior Open Championship.

Carter has been splitting time this season between the Nationwide and PGA Tours. He had some moderate success early in the season, with a T-9 at the New Zealand Open, but he recently has been struggling and hasn’t made a cut on either Tour since February.