Briton Ian Garbutt's decision to play the Mallorca Classic, after his father suffered a heart attack on Wednesday, paid off when he retained his European Tour playing card by only 801 pounds ($1,507).
Garbutt finished in a tie for 64th place behind winner Niclas Fasth of Sweden, enough to hold off fellow Briton David Drysdale who missed out on his card for the second successive year.
Drysdale, who was edged out by 396 pounds last year, must again compete at the tour's qualifying school.
"I was thinking about not playing when dad had his heart attack but I knew he wouldn't want me to go home and miss my card," Garbutt told reporters after clinching the 118th and final qualifying place on the order of merit.
Briton David Carter also moved past Drysdale, finishing tied 27th to claim the 117th and penultimate place for a tour card.
Playing partner Jamie Spence, the tour's tournament committee chairman, missed his chance to keep his card.
The 43-year-old Briton bogeyed two of the last four holes to finish in a tie for 17th place, 5,638 pounds away from safety. Spence must now decide if he can stand the strain of the school.
"If I could have parred in I would have done it," said the tour veteran. "At the moment I can't face up to the thought of tour school but I might change my mind when I've had more time to think about it."
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