Steve Allan and Oliver Goss shot matching 3-under-par 69’s in the final round of the first of the Web.com Tour Final Series events to sit inside the top-20 and be on track for a PGA TOUR card.

The veteran and the rookie were the only two of the 10 strong Australian contingent to play the weekend at the Hotel Fitness Championship, four of the Australians missing by one and three missing by two.

Cameron Percy, Rod Pampling, Aaron Baddeley and Mathew Goggin all finished 36 holes at even par, one shot too many to play the weekend, while Greg Chalmers, Stuart Appleby and Rhein Gibson were all one shot further back.

Robert Allenby withdrew from the event midway through the second round citing a back injury.

For Allan and Goss it is a solid start to the four tournament series which will award 25 new cards on top of the 25 already earned based on the Web.com Tour end of season money list.

The four events will run a ‘mini money list’ to determine who gets exemption to next year’s PGA TOUR, the higher up the standings players finish the better their exemption category and the more starts they earn next year.

The fields for the Finals Series are set by taking the top-75 money earners at the end of the Web.com season and adding the 75 players finishing 126-200 on the PGA TOUR’s FedEx Cup points list.

Allan and Goss could hardly have arrived at their T22 finish in more different fashion this week though the result is the same for both: they share 17th position on the Finals Series money list.

Allan was a model of consistency over the final 18 holes registering three birdies against no bogies to get to 7-under while Goss reeled off six birdies but gave back shots with a bogey and a double in the course of the round.

It’s a familiar pattern for the super talented 21-year-old whose aggressive style brings lots of birdies but also sees him wrack up his fair share of big numbers along the way.

He made 20 birdies for the week but also gave back 13 shots over the four days though the Sycamore Hills course is a tricky layout where double bogies and worse are not uncommon.

While Goss and Allan can be pleased with their week’s work, the rest of the Australians have made their assignment of getting to the main TOUR incrementally more difficult.

Rod Pampling is the only one of the 10 guaranteed full status for next year after finishing 17th on the end of season money list though Robert Allenby has a once only career money list exemption to fall back on if he chooses.

Stuart Appleby is in an unusual position having missed the bulk of the season following back surgery in March.

His major medical extension allows him to retain his TOUR status however his exemption ranking is low and he will be keen to improve it with some good play over the next three events.

For the rest the equation is simple, all need to not only make cuts but post some high finishes in at least two of the next three events to have a chance to advance to the PGA TOUR.