Seeber & Perkins prevail in rollercoaster final round

The pendulum swung back & forth on a blustery day at RTJ Highland Oaks. Ultimately, two men rose above the rest with a pair of back nine barrages to separate themselves from the field. With nine players within two shots of the lead as the final group entered the closing nine holes, the inaugural European Challenge Qualifier built toward a fittingly dramatic finish. In the end, Clay Seeber and Logan Perkins each produced closing surges to finish at 10-under par and earn seven HotelPlanner Tour invites for the 2026 season.

A Stern Opening Test

Round one provided the week’s most demanding setup. Tucked pins, swirling winds, and a testing layout just shy of 7600 yards kept scoring in check, with only 11 of 56 players breaking par. Jackson Skeen held the solo lead at -3, while Seeber quietly posted one of the more unusual rounds of the day — 18 consecutive pars, a rare and disciplined feat under pressure.

Momentum Builds

Round two saw some lower scoring. Jacob Sherlin fired a superb 65 (-7), featuring a back-nine 31, while Perkins surged with a 66 (-6) that included six birdies in an eight-hole stretch. Filip Raza added eight birdies of his own to stay near the summit.

By the final afternoon, the leaderboard was tightly compressed. As the final groups made the turn, nine players remained within two strokes. It was anyone’s tournament.

The Turning Point

Seeber felt his game was “the best it’s ever been” heading into the week and carried a quiet confidence into the final round. A timely birdie at the 9th provided what he described as “a bit of a jolt” heading into the back nine.

What followed was decisive. Seeber played his final 12 holes in 8-under par, highlighted by an eagle at the drivable 12th. He closed in 30 (-6) on the inward nine — remarkably making par on both par 5s — en route to a closing 66 (-6) and the lead at -10.

“My putter got hot,” Seeber said. “Next thing I knew, I was on 18 two putting from 15 feet.” Perkins was equally relentless. 5-under across his final ten holes, he signed for a 68 (-4) to match Seeber at the top. He capped his performance with a moment of precision and composure on the 18th, playing safely away from the hazard short, using the slope long-left of the green to perfection. The ball trickled to inches for a tap-in birdie — a fitting ribbon on a hard-fought week.

Redemption and Reward

For Perkins, the victory carried added weight. He spoke candidly afterward about coming up one shot short at multiple Q-Schools in recent years, and a disappointing performance at Korn Ferry Tour Second Stage on the very same course just months ago.

To return and conquer it under pressure felt, in his words, like “revenge.”

“It’s gonna be sick,” he added, reflecting on the opportunity to head to Europe and capitalise on the HotelPlanner Tour invites in 2026.

Notables

• Harry Lord produced a closing 66 (-6) to finish third at -7.

• Cooper Musselman, rebounding from an opening 39 in round one to work his way into contention, finished fourth at -6.

• Fred Roberts IV vaulted up the board with a bogey-free 67 (-5) to secure full Clutch Pro Tour status.

• Angus Flanagan, Callum Davison, and Grant Haefner were the only players to shoot under par in all three rounds, each finishing tied fifth at -4.

• Mark Baldwin and James Ross shared tenth at -3, steady throughout but unable to produce the decisive back-nine run required.

Beyond the two HotelPlanner Tour invite recipients, the top 25 finishers earned full Clutch Pro Tour status — a significant step along the DP World Tour pathway.

At a venue that demanded control in the wind and conviction on the greens, the European Challenge Qualifier delivered a final day worthy of the opportunity on offer — two composed performances, two deserving players, and two careers set to take the next step.