No need to send local golf pro Chris Thompson a birthday gift for turning 40 Monday. It couldn’t compare to the one he gave himself.

Thompson shot a 9-under par 63 to qualify for Land of Lincoln, a Web.com Tour event played in Springfield, Ill., at Panther Creek Country Club, a 7,244-yard track designed by Hale Irwin.

Thompson was the low medalist in the Monday qualifier played at Spencer T. Olin Golf Course in Alton, Ill., birdied eight of the first 10 holes to get to 8-under and finished with 10 birdies and one bogey. He rode a hot putter to the low round, using it just 27 times.

This will be Thompson’s third Web.com tournament of the season. He finished tied for 23rd in the Nashville Golf Open in June to earn $4,693 and an automatic berth in the Air Capital Classic in Wichita the next. He missed the cut there after shooting 71 on consecutive days.