Seamus Power tied for ninth behind Richy Werenski in the Barracuda Championship to clinch a place in final regular-season event and keep alive his chances of improving his status by making the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

The West Waterford man, seventh overnight, could not secure that maiden win or one of two spots in the US Open in September in a close fought final round at Old Greenwood Golf Course at Tahoe Mountain Club.

But his total haul of 32 modified stableford points — he picked up seven yesterday when he birdied the 18th for his fifth birdie of the day, his 20 footer hugging the lip for almost a full revolution before dropping— gave him his first top-10 finish for 16 months. Scores

He was fourth reserve for the Wyndham Championship but now gets into the field thanks to his top-10 in the Sierra Nevada.

He’s also up to 161st in the FedEx Cup standings which means he will still need another big week—a top-four finish may be required— in the Wyndham Championship to escape the conditional card, 126-150 Category next year.

However, having finished 143rd last year, Power will be happy if he at least improves on that position following the last event in Greeensboro and that means racking up another top-10 finish.

As for the Barracuda Championship, Werenski won his first PGA TOUR title just a week after finishing T3 at the 3M Open in Detroit.

He triumphed by a point with 39 points from Troy Merritt, who held the 54-hole lead or co-lead two years in a row and finished runner up for the second consecutive year.

Werenski made five birdies and a crucial eagle two at the 16th, and like Merritt, he earn spots in the 2020 U.S. Open as top two players, not otherwise exempt, finishing in the top-10 and ties.

He made 13 points in the final round to just five for Merritt, who made three birdies and a bogey on the front nine before closing with nine straight pars.