Jason Kokrak 5th at Tour Championship

Staff/wire report

charleston, s.c.

It was a mixed-emotion day for Jason Kokrak at the Nationwide Tour Championship on Sunday.

Playing in the final group and in the lead at the Ralston Creek Course at Daniel Island, Kokrak struggled to a 3 over par 75 round to finish tied for fifth in the season-ending tournament.

The Warren JFK High graduate, though, retained his No. 4 ranking on the Nationwide Tour’s money list — and with it, his PGA Tour card for 2012.

Kokrak officially received his Tour card for next season in an event televised on pga.com.

Ken Duke shot a 4-under 68 to come from a shot behind Kokrak to win the tournament.

Scott Brown, who was tied with Duke for second at the start of the day, finished alone in second after his 70.

Two-time heart transplant recipient Erik Compton also earned a PGA Tour card.

Compton wasn’t sure he’d ever play pro golf, let alone be member of the PGA Tour.

Yet he ended 13th overall with $239,737 to advance.

The 31-year-old Compton has played 30 career PGA events, but none with a tour card in his bag.

“It’s a miracle,” he said. “It really is a miracle what I’ve been able to achieve.”

J.J. Killeen won the money title, which made him fully exempt on the PGA Tour and gave him entry into the The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in May.

And the day ended with some drama as Brown made a long par-saving putt on the 17th and birdie on the 18th to finish alone in second when a bogey down the stretch would’ve dropped Billy Hurley III from the final qualifying spot at No. 25.

Hurley is a former Naval lieutenant who was on active duty in the Persian Gulf guarding Iraqi oil platforms two years ago.