Honolulu's Parker McLachlin, a Punahou School alum, will keep his full-exempt status on the PGA Tour next season after shooting an even-par 72 yesterday in the final round of the PGA Tour National Qualifying Tournament in Winter Garden, Fla.

McLachlin finished at 17-under 415 and was tied for 11th. The top 25 and ties in the grueling six-round tournament earn 2008 PGA Tour cards. The cut for the top 25 was at 14 under.

"It's nice to finish inside the number," McLachlin told the Golf Channel following his round at the Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge's Crooked Cat course.

"I had no idea what the number was, which was probably a good thing," he said in a story at the PGA Tour's Web site.

It didn't look so nice after McLachlin made the turn at 3 over with bogeys on the Nos. 5, 8 and 9. McLachlin quickly made up ground with birdies on Nos. 10, 12 and 14 to pull even. After a bogey on No. 15, he sank a birdie on the par-5 17th. He finished with a par.

"I set a goal to get to 20 under (overall), but after the 3 over I reset the goal to get to even par (for yesterday's round) and finish off strong and accomplished it," McLachlin said. "I hit a good shot on (No.) 10 to three feet and on 12 to 6 inches (for his first two birdies of the round)."

Frank Lickliter II shot a 71 yesterday, winning the tournament with a 29-under 403.

After the top 25 and ties, the nearest 50 will get full Nationwide Tour exemptions. The remaining players in the 166-man field will receive conditional Nationwide Tour status.

McLachlin earned his first PGA card at Q-school last year, but finished outside the top 125 on the PGA money list and had to return to qualify for full PGA Tour playing privileges for next season. He joins Kane'ohe native Dean Wilson on the tour.

The 2008 tour begins Jan. 3 at the 2007 winners-only Mercedes-Benz Championship on Maui. The first full-field event follows the next week at the Sony Open in Hawai'i at Waialae Country Club.