Golf pro Dwayne Pearman overcame a horrendous third round to qualify for this year's Canadian Tour at the Silverthorn Country Club in Florida last week.

The past Belmont Invitational and Bermuda Open winner carded an even par 72 on the final day of the 72-hole event to finish in a four-way tie for tenth.

Pearman is now the second Bermudian behind Eric West (Tour de las Americas) to earn an overseas tour card this month.

The Ocean View pro needed to place among the top 13 finishers to qualify and did just that by coming in at even par after carding two birdies and two bogeys in his final round at the 6,933-yard Joseph Lee-designed lay-out.

"Overall I was satisfied with my performance because I went there to qualify and achieved my goal," the veteran pro told The Royal Gazette. "I didn't hit it as good as I wanted but hung in there."

Pearman's qualifying bid gained momentum on day two when he shot a one-under-par 71, his lowest round of the tournament. But a five-over-par 76 in the penultimate round saw the Bermudian fall off the pace.

Pearman bogeyed the tenth hole, double bogeyed the 11th and carded triple bogeys at nine and 17 to leave himself with an uphill climb heading to the final round.

"That certainly dampened my spirits a bit and at that point I figured I was out of it - that really put the pressure on," said Pearman, who first qualified for the Canadian Tour 19 years ago. "First round I scrapped it around a bit while the second round was better. But obviously the third round was so so. I actually thought I blew myself out of it when I triple bogeyed the par-three 17th and figured I had to shoot at least two under on the final day to get in."

Pearman three-putted for triple bogey at nine, carded another triple at 17 after pulling his eight-iron approach into the water and at times struggled to find his groove with the putter.

"I missed a lot of birdies out there but still felt I putted half-way decent," he added. "I never felt nervous or anything like that because it was just a matter of doing it or not.

"But overall I was pleased with my performance and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my sponsors, Department of Tourism and David Ezekiel who has always been in my corner.

"David has always had faith in my ability and has stuck by me through thick and thin over the years. He's always tried to assist me wherever he can and I just hope this wonderful relationship continues."

Canadian Ryan Yip won last week's Canadian Tour's Florida Winter Qualifying School event by four shots over American Michael Nicoletti.

* Nick Jones rebounded from a disappointing showing at this month's Bermuda Amatuer Match Play Championships at Mid Ocean Club by winning the 13th Annual Innisbrook Easter Junior Classic by three shots in Tampa, Florida over the weekend.

The young Bermudian, who was chosen as Golfweek magazine's Young Player of the Month last month, carded a final round two-over-par 73 to take his three-day total to 222.

It was the Grandview Prep student's fourth victory of the year, a triumph that went a long way towards erasing painful memories of this month's failed bid to wrest a maiden Match Play title on local turf.

"It was definitely a redemption tournament," he said. "I hit the ball very well off the tee and had some good approch shots, but still have to work a bit on my short game and executing birdie putts."

Teenager Jones mixed three birdies with five bogeys on the final day of the 54-hole event after making the cut in what he described as "challenging conditions".

"It was a pretty tough course; long and pretty narrow," he explained. "The first day was windy and it rained on the second. But the third day was pretty good and obviously it feels good to win another tournament."

Jones' latest achievement earned him exemption to a second American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) event this year.