Abbotsford's Ray Stewart has no plans on becoming a full-time 'rabbit' on the Champions Tour. Despite finishing second at qualifying school for the 50-and-over set this past weekend, Stewart said he will likely pick his spots next year and may only attempt to play in a handful of tournaments.

Unlike past years, the Q school survivors did not receive a Champions Tour card. Rather, they simply earned the right to show up on Monday and compete for the nine spots that will be available each week. The top 30 and ties from last week's Q school will be joined at those Monday qualifiers by a number of former PGA Tour players, like Westbank resident Dave Barr, who are not exempt on the Champions Tour. The new system is similar in some respects -- although there will be significantly fewer spots available -- to the one used by the PGA Tour before it went to an all-exempt system. The players chasing those PGA Tour spots back then were called rabbits.

"You tell me, how exciting does it sound to come down with 70 or 80 other guys to tee it up for nine spots on Monday?" Stewart said. "I'm sure I'll go play some, but am I committing my whole life to go out and Monday qualify next year for the Champions Tour? I don't think so."

Stewart said he treated last week's Q school, which offered a $200,000 US purse, like a regular tournament. That plan worked as he cashed a cheque for $21,000 US, which more than covered his expenses.

Stewart said he may travel to Hawaii in late January and attempt to qualify for the Turtle Bay Championship and could head to Florida for a three-tournament swing in February. Beyond that, he's not making any commitments.

Another change to next year's Champions Tour will benefit non-exempt players like Stewart and Barr who qualify for an event and play well. Anyone finishing in the top 10 of an event will earn a spot in the following tournament. Previously, the only way for a non-exempt player to play the following week was to win. "I guess the other way of thinking is we'll head down, get in a tournament, play well and keep going and change your life," Stewart said.

Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, November 21, 2006