The 50-year-old tour rookie shot a closing five under 67 to finish behind only American winner Tim O'Neal and Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez in the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in Virginia on Sunday.
The result lifted him from No.56 in the season standings to No.35 with only the top 54 advancing to this week's Simmons Bank Championship in Arkansas, where they will battle to be among the top 30 for the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Arizona.
Rod Pampling was tied fifth, three shots further back as he improved from No.38 to No.33.
Michael Wright only just hung on, dropping to No.54 from No.48 after closing with a 77 to be tied 65th in the tournament.
The only Aussie to drop out after the opening playoffs event was John Senden who finished tied 54th and fell from No.63 to No.67.
Leading Australian Richard Green remained at No.4 in a stellar season despite a tied 51st finish on Sunday.
The other Aussies advancing are Greg Chalmers (T37th on Sunday, No.26), Mark Hensby (T20th, No.29), Stuart Appleby (T26th, No.31), Steve Allan (T61st, No.38), and Cameron Percy (T26th, No.40).
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