Slow and steady didn’t win the race, but it was solid enough for Victoria’s Rick Gibson to earn his regular playing card on the European Senior Golf Tour.

Gibson used an even-par 71 on his final round at qualifying school at Pestana Golf Resort’s Vale da Pinta course in Portugal on Thursday to grab one of six full-time privilege cards.

The 50-year-old made the turn in 1-under 33 before suffering a bogey at the 186-yard par-3 15th hole on the back nine. His four-day 2-under 282 total left him tied for fourth place with Jeff Hall and Steve Cipa, both of Britain. They were the last three to secure spots.

The top six earned full playing rights, while the seventh- to 14th-place finishers received conditional cards.

Dave Wettlaufer, of Deer Ridge Golf Club in Kingston, Ont., finished in a tie for 10th, thanks to a 3-under 68 that moved him up 16 spots. He and Ken Tarling of Sanford, Ont., were the only other Canadians to advance.

Tarling finished in a five-way tie for 14th at 286. Phil Jonas, of Hazelmere Golf Club in Surrey, shot a tidy 2-under 69 on the final day, but finished 33rd.

Gibson was looking forward to playing with the elder set after making the Asian Tour his regular home of late, along with stops on the Canadian Tour. He tied for 10th at the 2011 Times Colonist Island Savings Open at Uplands.

“It’s a little bit more friendly than the [U.S. senior’s] Champions Tour because there are more spots after those initial six, and those [conditional] guys do get into more tournaments here, so it’s not quite as cut-throat as the U.S.,” Gibson said after his second round.

“The Champions Tour is top five or else. This one is a little friendlier that way. It’s still pretty competitive though,” he said of an opportunity to play regularly with the likes of Scotland’s Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam of Wales and South Africa’s David Frost.

Gibson picked up $2,400 for his finish after the four-round qualifying school and will have plenty of opportunities to collect more. Australia’s Peter Fowler topped the 2011 Order of Merit, earning almost $400,000 in 18 events.

The 2012 schedule is not finalized, but the jewel of the season is the British Senior Open, which returns to Scotland’s famous Turnberry course from July 26-29. n