Updates for November 2023 and FA Cup Picks Intro

 Hello all! You may be wondering why my activity on the Devilish Rake has slowed a bit lately. Well, things have been quite busy, and they're about to get even busier. I do plan to finish my recap of PGA Tour Q-School First Stage, although no Umcees made it out of the stage who contested sites in the third and final week of the stage. However, since Tom Hoge was the only Umcee participating in a tour-golf event the other week--and he struggled at the no-cut Zozo Championship in Japan off a missed cut at the Shriners Children's Open in Vegas the week before--I decided to not designate an Upper Midwest Connection of the Week. Same thing went for last week, as there were few events and no Umcees in them. That'll change this week, with two Umcees in Troy Merritt and Erik van Rooyen taking on the newly relocated World Wide Technology Championship at El Cardonal in Los Cabos, Mexico. Additionally, three Umcees--Chris Meyer, Kaylor Steger and Thomas Longbella--will tee it up at DP World Tour Q-School in Spain this week. We don't know how many will advance from each of the four sites, but it's usually 20 to 25 (plus ties).

But that isn't the only development around here. At the suggestion of a colleague from Minnesota State Mankato, I am participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) for the first time, starting tomorrow. My goal is to compose a 50 000-word novel in the course of November. That means I'll need to write 5000 words every three days on average, all devoted to the novel. My time to add to this blog will, as a result, be somewhat constrained by this project and one other, more recurring tradition.

That tradition, which I have observed for the last eight seasons, is picking all 123 proper-stage ties in the world's oldest surviving soccer competition, the FA Cup. For those who are unfamiliar with the competition, it begins every August with village and small-town clubs from all over England (with a few from Wales and the Channel Islands as well) pitted against each other. Gradually, these semiprofessional clubs are joined by full-fledged pro sides based on their placement for the year in the English league hierarchy until the third- and fourth-tier teams join in November, followed by Premier League and Championship elevens in January. The one thing I love about the Cup is its relative democracy. Because the pairings are openly drawn, the hope is always there that a shoestring club can defeat a bigwig. Though in practice, the winners have usually been from the top flight of the English game. West Ham United was the last to violate this general rule back in 1980.

I will publish my first-round picks sometime between the final whistle of midweek league action and noon CDT Friday, 3 November. If you want to do your own picks, here's the scoring system I use as my baseline:

10 points for a correct first-round pick

20 for a correct second-round pick

25 for the third round

50 for the fourth round

100 for the fifth round

200 for each quarterfinal

500 for each semifinal

1000 for the final

I also pick scores. This year, after participating in Phil Annets' pick-'em contests for the Euros and the World Cup the last two years (and intending to do so again for Euro 2024), I decided to assess bonus points for team scoring. Whether a team I pick to win does so or not, they get a point plus one more for each goal scored across the tie if I picked the right score for that team. Where applicable, this includes any replays (first four rounds only) and extra time, but not penalty-shootout goals. These are multiplied by a tenth of the baseline points for each round above, but if the combined exact score is correctly predicted, the total bonus doubles.

See you soon with my picks for the first round proper!

Edward the Scop

Q-School Primer 2023: First Stage Part III (AL, NC, TX-2 and TX-3)

 Before previewing the final week of First Stage for 2023's resurrected PGA Tour Q-School, I would like to apologize for forgetting to update the Q-school recap post. It's been a busy time lately at work with more than usual, so I'll catch up as soon as possible. Fortunately, there isn't a PGA Tour event this week, which will give me time to do so.

The final week of First Stage is conveniently placed in the week the PGA Tour is off between the Zozo Championship in Japan and the World Wide Technology Championship in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. As with the first week of the stage, there are four sites (as opposed to the five last week). Unlike the opening week of the stage, two sites are in one state, Texas. Details are below.

Magnolia Grove/Crossings Club in Alabama is one of four First Stage courses this week.

Alabama: Magnolia Grove/Crossing Club, Semmes, par 72, 7250yd

79 players. Umcees: Chris Gilman, Sioux Falls, SD (8:15am on 10/9:25am); Andrew McCain, Jupiter, FL/University of Minnesota alumnus (9:25am on 10/8:25am); Aaron Wilson, Chaska, MN (9:45am on 10/8:45am)

North Carolina: Bermuda Run Country Club (East Course), Bermuda Run, par 71, 7001yd

77 players. No Umcees.

Texas-2: Abilene Country Club, Abilene, par 72, 7136yd

76 players. No Umcees.

Texas-3: Walden Golf Club on Lake Conroe, Montgomery, par 72, 6756yd

75 players. No Umcees.

Upper Midwest Connection of the Week Ending 15 October 2023 + Q-School Updates

When I sat down to write this, I had just gotten in from pulling weeds ahead of the chill of winter, and it was half past six Central when I wrapped, nearly. Had to beat the sunset, you know. As I submit this, the Zozo Championship has already teed off. Normally I wouldn't write my Upper Midwest Connection of the Week feature after an event of note in the current week has teed off, but this is literally the one annual exception. Though perhaps I'll plan ahead next year and write either earlier in the day or Tuesday evening of Zozo week.

Anyway, last week was probably the last we'll see of the big three Umcees in the same tourney this year. With Tom Hoge exempt for every non-major event (including the Players) on the 2024 regular season thanks to his top-50 finish in this year's playoffs, this week's Zozo will be the last he tees it up on the PGA Tour for the fall, at least as far as official events are concerned. He might participate in some exhibition in December if he's lucky--he won last year's QBE Shootout with now-Fortinet Championship holder Sahith Theegala before it got reimagined as a mixed event for this year--and that's it. By contrast, neither Erik van Rooyen (#131 regular season) nor Troy Merritt (#133) was nearly good enough to play the Zozo, according to the main FedEx Cup point list. On the other hand, expect both to play the last three events this FedEx Cup Fall, which resumes after a one-week hiatus in Cabo at the beginning of November, while Hoge's next event bearing official money and points won't be until the season premiere at the Sentry.

Heading into the week, the discussion concerning Umcees at the Shriners Children's Open centred around Hoge. After all, he was coming off back-to-back top-15 finishes worldwide at the BMW PGA Championship in England and the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi. He had had plenty of past success at TPC Summerlin. And while Merritt had had some success in Vegas, van Rooyen had missed the cut two years ago in his only previous trip.

This is why you don't read into past history too much! Hoge had consecutive even-par rounds (71), which gave him the same score as LPGA star Lexi Thompson, who hasn't won a single event on her own tour since 2019! Both missed the cut by three strokes. Merritt started well, carding a first round -3/68, but he failed to break par the last three days and actually went +1/72 for his final round. Only one Umcee mustered an under-par score all four days...

Erik van Rooyen.

For the third time since my blog's inception in July 2023, EVR is my Upper Midwest Connection of the Week. The University of Minnesota alumnus from South Africa was his country's top entrant in Sin City, obliterating Garrick Higgo by five strokes en route to a T23. He was especially lethal with his irons, ranking 12th in the field among those who made the cut, and on Sunday with a bogey-free -6/65. It wasn't enough to move van Rooyen up from #125 in the FedEx Cup, so he remains for now the bubble boy in that regard, but it did move him to #191 in the OWGR, which is his highest ranking since the last of his seven straight MCs at the John Deere Classic in July. Van Rooyen has since made seven of nine cuts worldwide, including five straight top-30 finishes--the last three in the FedEx Cup Fall.

This week also marks the second week of First Stage for PGA Tour Q-School. As my last post hinted, there aren't nearly as many Umcees this week as there were last week. There are still quite a few playing Q-school this week, though. I will say that only Matthew Walker of Ottumwa, Iowa, and Zach Burry of Appleton, Wisconsin, are on track to join those already in Second Stage at that juncture midway through this week, both from the site in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Walker, in fact, is tied for the lead with Mitchell Meissner of Dallas, Texas, which would give both of them full privileges on the Latin American portion of next year's PGA Tour Americas season.

Lastly, two Umcees are playing LPGA Q-School Stage II for a spot among the top 40 and ties to advance to the final stage, AKA Q-Series. If you've followed this blog long enough, you know of Kim Kaufman of Clark, South Dakota. She's tied for 13th through two rounds. That would put her into the Q-Series along with Kate Smith of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, who automatically qualified for that hurdle by virtue of her Epson Tour finish of #19. There's also Emily Lauterbach of Hartland, Wisconsin, who made it through Stage I earlier in Q-school. Unfortunately, it doesn't look nearly as good for her. Her score of +5 through two rounds has her T111 so far.

Edward the Scop

Q-School Primer 2023: First Stage Part II (CA, FL-2, MS, NM, TX-1)

 The second week of First Stage starts tomorrow, 17 October with five sites across the Sunbelt from coast to coast, making this arguably the most widespread week for Q-school in 2023. No other week has more than four sites, and no week the rest of the year will involve more than three states. Again, tee times are respective for the first two rounds for each Umcee involved at each site.

The University of New Mexico's Championship Golf Course is a First Stage site this week.

California: Bear Creek Golf Club, Murrieta, par 72, 7188yd

78 players. Umcees: Taylor Koser, Rice Lake, WI (10:42am on 1/9:36am).

Florida-2: The Falls Club, Lake Worth, par 71, 6735yd

78 players. Umcees: Evan Long, Naples, FL/University of Minnesota (9:33am on 10/8:30am).

Mississippi: Lake Caroline Golf Club, Madison, par 70, 6835yd

80 players. Umcees: Van Holmgren, formerly of Plymouth, MN (9:54am on 10); Andrew Israelson, Bemidji, MN (9:22am on 10).

Note: Round 2 tee times unavailable.

New Mexico: University of New Mexico Championship Course, Albuquerque, par 71, 7555yd

80 players. Umcees: Zach Burry, Appleton, WI (10:45am on 1/9:42am); Matthew Walker, Ottumwa, IA (11:16am on 1/10:13am).

Texas-1: Rockwall Golf and Athletic Club, Rockwall, par 72, 7414yd

78 players. Umcees: Trey Fessler, Hanover, MN (10:15am on 10/9:12am).

Q-School Recap 2023: First Stage

In September, I opened a dynamic post recapping prequalifying for the resurrected PGA Tour Q-School. This time, we continue with First Stage results, diving into both who won each site (and, as a result of their medallist honours, secured a Latin American leg exemption for next year's inaugural PGA Tour Americas season) and the performances of Umcees involved. As with the first recap post, I invite you to bookmark this post and check back for weekly updates as First Stage sites conclude.

Players marked with (PQ) started in prequalifying.

Week I: AZ, FL-1, NE, OK

Ak-Chin/Southern Dunes GC, Maricopa, AZ, par 72, 7546yd

Medallists: Tanner Gore, Farmers Branch, Texas; Jonathan de Los Reyes, Ripon, California (both -17/271; Gore 66-67-66-72, Los Reyes 70-69-62-70)

Neither player had any status on any level of the PGA Tour pyramid, so both will welcome a chance to play the Latin American swing in 2024. As you can tell from the round-by-round scores, Gore had the steadier rise to his share of the medallist plaudits, but Los Reyes had the most impressive round of the eight between them, going -10 in the third round, and he secured his PGA Tour Americas exemption via a closing birdie to tie Gore.

Total progressions: 21 (one overhang)

Umcees advancing to Second Stage:

T9: Angus Flanagan, Woking, County Surrey, England, United Kingdom/University of Minnesota '21 (-11/72-71-65-69=277)

Flanagan had better bogey avoidance (only six suffered) than either medallist! He was especially impressive in the third round, carding a bogey-free -7/65. Good on him to wash out the bad taste from narrowly missing out on Second Stage at last month's Q-school site for the DP World Tour.

T16: Andre Metzger, formerly of Sioux Falls, SD (-7/68-74-67-72=281)

The star of the Dakotas Tour, who made it all the way to Final Stage a year ago when only Korn Ferry Tour status was available, made it on the number despite a closing bogey. Especially impressive on par-5s, as he went -11 in those situations. If I could critique one aspect, it would be to work on par-3s, as he went +5 on those.

Umcees missing out on Second Stage (alphabetical): Emmet Herb, Middleton, WI (PQ); Austin Rene, Jamestown, ND (PQ)

Championsgate GC I, Championsgate, FL, par 72, 7243yd

Medallist: Michael Sweeney, Port St Lucie, FL (-18/71-63-72-64=270)

He had the most birdies or better of any player at the site with 23. He even had two aces on the week, both at the par-3 No 2!

Total progressions: 24 (four overhangs)

No Umcees advanced to Second Stage.

Umcees missing out on Second Stage (alphabetical): Austin Kendziorski,* Germantown, WI (PQ); Taylor Sundbom, Duluth MN

*As a result of his top-50 finish, Kendziorski is exempt to First Stage in 2024.

Wilderness Ridge CC, Lincoln, NE, par 71, 7106yd

Medallist: Alex Scott, Traverse City, MI (-14/69-62-70-69=270)

He made more birdies or better on the week than anybody else at the site and rallied for the medal past Tripp Kinney (see below).

Total progressions: 20 (no overhangs)

Umcees advancing to Second Stage:

2: Tripp Kinney, Des Moines, IA (-10/64-66-68-76=274)

Despite a horrid +5 final round that cost him medallist plaudits, Kinney actually suffered the fewest bogeys or worse with just six in the field. Not that he needed a share of the honours, as he collected a fair amount of Korn Ferry Tour points this year and should at least have PGA Tour Americas status to some degree in 2024.

T4: Ben Sigel, Deephaven, MN (-6/68-69-74-67=278)

Sigel was especially adept on the par-5s, tying for second best on those holes with -7. He also had the low round on the last day with -4/67.

T7: Harrison Ott, Brookfield, WI (-5/69-70-71-69=279)

Though he struggled on his last nine holes, Ott made it to Second Stage with two strokes to spare. He also tied second-most birdies or better on the week with eighteen.

T7: Jack Ebner, Edina, MN (PQ; -5/67-64-73-75=279)

Nothing fancy, but he did rank top 10 in both par-4 scoring and par-5 scoring. Not bad for coming out of prequalifying.

T10: Brady Madsen, Raymond, MN (PQ; -4/68-68-69-75=280)

He survived a double bogey at the last to advance with a stroke to spare. Especially good on par-3s, tying for third in that regard (-2 for the week).

Umcees missing out on Second Stage (alphabetical): Jack Hiemenz, Blaine, MN (PQ); Tyler Leach, Spring Valley, WI (PQ); Ross Miller, Minneapolis, MN; Lucas Scherf, Pleasant Hill, IA (PQ); Zach Sklebar, Fargo, ND (PQ)

Muskogee GC, Muskogee, OK, par 70, 6702yd

Medallist: Luis Gerardo Garza, Guanajuato, Mexico (-10/69-68-63-70=270)

He had the joint-lowest score on par-4s on the week (-6). The key to his medal was the third round, where he went -7 and tied the fewest bogeys with just one (at No 11).

Total progressions: 22 (two overhangs).

Umcees advancing to Second Stage:

T7: Will Grevlos, Sioux Falls, SD (-6/68-71-69-66=274)

Grevlos was one of four players to have more birdies or better than Gerardo Garza, recording twenty. His closing round -4/66 was the best of those making Second Stage from this site and second best overall.

T12: Thomas Longbella, Chippewa Falls, WI (-4/70-66-69-71=276)

While not as impressive as his fellow University of Minnesota alumnus, Longbella played fine defensive golf, suffering only ten bogeys on a small course. He also went under par on the par-4s, enough to crack the top ten and ties in that regard. All this enables him to advance to Second Stage for the second successive year.

Umcees missing out on Second Stage (alphabetical): Sterling McIlravy,* Solon, IA (PQ)

*As a result of his top-50 finish, McIlravy is exempt to First Stage in 2024.

Week II: CA, FL-2, MS, NM, TX-1

Bear Creek GC, Murrieta, CA, par 72, 7188yd

Medallists: Adam Navigato, Solana Beach, California; Riley Elmes, Lake Oswego, Oregon (both -14/274; Navigato 63-73-71-67, Elmes 68-68-70-68)

Elmes would have been the sole medallist if not for a closing double. As it is, he had the joint-best par-4 score (-7) for the week. Meanwhile, Navigato impressed with an opening 63, only to stumble to a midweek crisis. However, he had the joint-fewest bogeys in the closing frame, only slipping up on 16, while carding half a dozen birdies.

Total progressions: 24 (four overhangs).

No Umcees advanced to Second Stage.

Umcees participating (alphabetical): Taylor Koser, Rice Lake, Wisconsin

The Falls Club, Lake Worth, FL, par 71, 6735yd

Medallist: Jimmy Hervol (local; -23/66-67-64-64=261)

His thirty par breakers were the most in the field, and he also led in par-3 scoring (-7). What made his performance even more impressive is the fact that he bogeyed the closing par 5.

Total progressions: 22 (two overhangs).

No Umcees advanced to Second Stage.

Umcees participating (alphabetical): Evan Long, Naples, Florida/University of Minnesota

Lake Caroline, Madison, MS, par 70, 6835yd

Medallist: Zander Winston, Scottsdale, Arizona (-23/67-63-67-60=257)

He would have broken 60 in the final round if not for an opening bogey. As it is, he was able to leapfrog 54-hole leader Thomas Giroux of Canada for the honours while breaking par 29 times.

Total progressions: 20 (no overhangs).

Umcees advancing to Second Stage:

Van Holmgren, Ft Myers, Florida (-12/66-71-66-65=268)

Heading into the final round, the Plymouth, Minnesota, native was T26 and on the outside looking in for Second Stage. Then he eagled the opening hole and followed it up with two birdies before suffering his first of two bogeys. He would record three more birdies before the other dropped shot to make Second Stage with a stroke to spare.

Umcees missing out on Second Stage (alphabetical): Andrew Israelson, Bemidji, Minnesota*

*As a result of his top-50 finish, Israelson is exempt to First Stage in 2024.

UNM Championship Course, Albuquerque, NM, par 71, 7555yd

Medallist (and leading Umcee!): Matthew Walker, Ottumwa, Iowa (-14/67-68-67-68=270)

He posted not one but two bogey free rounds and was the only player to break 70 all four days. Those three birdies in the final round were the difference over three other players.

Total progressions: 25 (five overhangs).

Other Umcees advancing to Second Stage:

Zach Burry, Appleton, Wisconsin (-6/70-69-67-72=278)

Basically secured his progression via a strong third-round performance, going bogey free with four birdies, which enabled him to absorb some ups and downs at the last.

Rockwall Golf and Athletic Club, Rockwall, TX, par 72, 7414yd

Medallist: Luke Long, Fayetteville, Arkansas (-21/69-69-66-63=267)

His 25 birdies led the field, as did his scoring on par 3s and par 5s. He had the third-best bogey avoidance (only six suffered all week) and closed with a bogey free -9.

Total progressions: 24 (four overhangs).

No Umcees advanced to Second Stage.

Umcees participating (alphabetical): Trey Fessler, Hanover, Minnesota

Upper Midwest Connection of the Week Ending 8 October 2023 + Q-School Update

 After a fortnight dedicated to USA v Europe team events (it's a miracle I didn't harm myself, even in a benign way, as a result of the outcomes of both!) in which little action took place in tour golf or even in Q-school, the latter two concerns picked up again last week. I was going to name an Upper Midwest Connection of the Week last week for the week before based on the results of the Epson Tour's Tuscaloosa-Toyota Classic in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Both reigning UMCOW (as I shall hereafter abbreviate the honour in conjunction with its full name) Kim Kaufman of Clark, South Dakota, and Kate Smith of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, were due to play the event. But sometime during the week of the event, Kaufman decided to be done for the Epson Tour season and focus on Stage II of LPGA Q-School in an effort to reclaim her card on the LPGA Tour. My next choice was to include former Wisconsin Badger Chris Meyer in the running, as long as he advanced to First Stage of PGA Tour Q-School (from prequalifying, of course). That didn't happen, although he still can look forward to Second Stage of Q-school in Europe for the DP World Tour. With only Smith making the event (though she made the cut as usual), it wasn't worth it to name an UMCOW.

Well, last week offered more options. For the first time since the FedEx Cup Regular Season ended in August, all of the big three Umcees were in the same PGA Tour event--namely, the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi. Smith participated in the Epson Tour Championship, and Frankie Capan III contested the Korn Ferry Tour Championship for a shot at one of thirty cards on next year's PGA Tour. Let's break it down.

FCIII needed nothing short of a three-way share of bronze at the KFT Championship to get a PGA Tour card. Unfortunately, a ruinous 78 Thursday put him stumbling out of the gate, and he had no traction Friday either, settling for even par. His only quality round was a Saturday 66 (-6), and he gave half that progress back with a final-round +3/75 Sunday. Despite these struggles, which kept him from the top 40, Capan didn't slide any more than he had two weeks earlier at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship. he gets direct entry into Final Stage of Q-school for a top-60 points list finish and, of course, full membership on the Korn Ferry Tour for next year just for making it to the event.

Remaining on the developmental-tour note, Smith fared far better in the Epson Tour Championship. While she was unable to grab the victory she would have needed to grab an LPGA Tour card in all likelihood, she finished par or better in all four rounds, breaking 70--nay, 69--in three of them. Smith's best round was arguably Thursday's bogey free -7/65. She had another flawless round Sunday, though she mustered only -4/68. Her paycheck of $5786 enabled her to finish #19 on the money list, not only ensuring her full membership on the Epson Tour for next year but granting her guaranteed access to the finals of LPGA Q-School, branded as Q-Series. Nor will she have to worry about using two sites over two weeks, as the LPGA reduced Q-Series to a single site of six rounds. The cut of 70 and ties after round four still applies, though.

This brings us to the big tour. As alluded above, Erik van Rooyen, Troy Merritt and Tom Hoge were all involved in the FedEx Cup Fall's second event. Hoge had the least to get out of the event, as his top-50 finish in the playoffs means he'll have access to all non-major events, including the Players Championship. Even so, he was under par all four rounds, as he cracked the top 25 at the event for the first time. He also moved up one spot to #49 in the OWGR. This will loom large for qualifying for the Masters, as one criterion is to finish the year in the top 50 of the world, according to the ranking.

Van Rooyen had much more to gain. Of the three Umcees in action in Jackson, he was the only one outside the top 125 eligibility threshold, so he needed a good showing to move in. Mission accomplished with three breaches of 70, although he struggled Sunday on an even-par showing. He now occupies the last spot for full membership on account of points and also moved back into the OWGR top 200, checking in at #198 this week. It's his third-highest ranking since midyear or so. However, the UMCOW honours belong most clearly to him who has helped take the FedEx Cup Fall by storm, especially from an Upper Midwestern perspective. And that guy is...

Troy Merritt.

Like Hoge, Merritt broke par all four rounds, and like van Rooyen, he broke 70 in three rounds. The guy was some front-nine trouble away from making the deciding playoff a six-man affair, as he finished just two strokes shy of the -18 he would have needed. Indeed, had he gone bogey-free and all else had remained equal, Merritt would have won his third PGA Tour title. As it is, he moved to #177 in the OWGR and #115 in the fall rankings, though he remains among the antepenultimate five survivors. (His last winner's exemption expired in August 2021.) Definitely one to look out for this fall.

Tomorrow as of this writing, the Shriners Children's Open tees off in Las Vegas, and First Stage of Q-School is underway as we speak. One Umcee, Tripp Kinney of Des Moines, Iowa, leads the site in Lincoln, Nebraska, on -12. If he holds on to win the medal, he'll get PGA Tour Americas membership for the first half of its inaugural 2024 season, held in Latin America.

Edward the Scop

Q-School Primer, Part I: First Stage (AZ, FL-1, NE, OK)

 Having explained the criteria for First Stage in my last post, I now turn to the Q-school sites themselves for this stage. Included are a listing of the sites for this week with par numbers and yardages, field sizes and Umcees participating with their first and second round tee times. As is custom, if a golfer starts the week on tee No 1, he'll switch to starting at No 10 for round 2 and vice versa. All times are local, so consider the time zone in which a given site lies before opting to track any players, including but not limited to the listed Umcees. If a given player advanced from prequalifying, he is marked with (PQ).

Located in Nebraska's capital, Wilderness Ridge CC has the most Umcees this week at Q-school.

Arizona: Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, Maricopa (par 72, 7546yd)

80 players. Umcees: Angus Flanagan, University of Minnesota '21 (7:40am on 10/8:50am); Emmet Herb (PQ), Middleton, WI (7:50am on 1/9:10am); Austin Rene (PQ), Jamestown, ND (8am on 10/9:10am); Andre Metzger, formerly of Sioux Falls, SD (8:20am on 1/9:40am)

Florida-1: Champions Gate Golf Club, Champions Gate (par 72, 7243yd)

80 players. Umcees: Austin Kendziorski (PQ), Germantown, WI (9:30am on 10/8:30am); Taylor Sundbom, Duluth, MN (8:40am on 1/10am)

Nebraska: Wilderness Ridge Country Club, Lincoln (par 71, 7106yd)

79 players. Umcees: Tripp Kinney, Des Moines, IA (9am on 10/10:10am); Ross Miller, Minneapolis, MN (9:50am on 10/11am); Ben Sigel, Deephaven, MN (10am on 1/11:10am); Zach Sklebar (PQ), Fargo, ND (10:10am on 10/9am); Jack Hiemenz (PQ), Blaine, MN (10:20am on 1/9:10am); Tyler Leach (PQ), Spring Valley, WI (10:40am on 1/9:30am); Harrison Ott, Brookfield, WI (10:40am on 10/9:30am); Jack Ebner (PQ), Edina, MN (10:50am on 1/9:40am); Brady Madsen (PQ), Raymond, MN (10:50am on 10/9:40am); Lucas Scherf (PQ), Pleasant Hill, IA (11am on 10/9:50am)

Oklahoma: Muskogee Golf Club, Muskogee (par 70, 6702yd)

78 players. Umcees: Thomas Longbella, Chippewa Falls, WI (9:47am on 1/8:41am); Will Grevlos, Sioux Falls, SD (9:47am on 10/8:41); Sterling McIlravy (PQ), Solon, IA (10:09am on 10/9:03am)

Edward the Scop

Q-School Primer 2023: First Stage Criteria with Commentary

 Tomorrow, 10 October 2023, what I call the proper portion of Q-school for the PGA Tour pyramid tees off with four sites across as many states: Arizona, Florida, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Next week has five sites, including a second stop in Florida, as well as stops in California, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. The week after concludes First Stage with two further sites in Texas plus one each in Alabama and North Carolina.

Whereas prequalifying largely involved players from minitours and those who didn't make the main developmental circuits out of college, First Stage is for those who have a modicum of status on bigger tours. Specifically, the criteria for skipping prequalifying are:

1. Members of the PGA Tour and/or its developmental circuits, the DP World Tour, the Japan Golf Tour, the Korea PGA Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia or the Sunshine Tour the last three years. This requires some clarification. The 2019-20 cycle was combined with 2020-21 for eligibility purposes due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, PGA Tour members this year won't have to worry about entering here, as the rules provide Second Stage entry for them.
2. Anyone who made a cut in an official-money tournament conducted by these tours the last two years. Again, some clarification is in order, as this strictly refers to nonmembers of such tours who happen to make the cut at least once where official money is at play. By this, in turn, is meant that at least three rounds (54 holes) have been completed of a given event on these tours.
3. Second Stage participants from the last three Korn Ferry Tour Q-Schools. Because there was no Q-school in 2020 due to Covid-19, the 2019 edition is included this year for the last time in this category.
4. Top 50 and ties from each First Stage site the last two years.
5. Participation in the majors and the Players Championship the last two years. Last year, this was a Second Stage exemption criterion. With the revival of PGA Tour cards at Q-school, this gets bumped to First Stage.
6. Participation in the last PGA Professional National Championship.
7. Makers of the cut in the last PGA Assistant Professional National Championship.
8. The second hundred on the OWGR as of 11 September 2023.
9. The twenty players below the top five on the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of 6 September 2023.
10. Players who qualified for the last two Walker Cups.
11. Semifinalists at the last three U.S. Amateurs and finalists at the last two U.S. Mid-Amateurs.

So what's at stake? Not much at this point, except that all site medallists (of whom each site can have multiple) will receive guaranteed PGA Tour Americas membership for the Latin American half of 2024. This replaces the old PGA Tour Latinoamerica, which in turn replaced the Tour de las Americas. As for the second half of the season, held in Canada, it replaces the PGA Tour Canada, formerly the Mackenzie Tour. However, membership cannot be attained via Q-school for that segment, at least not directly.

The next post concerns the first four sites, with emphasis on Umcees participating at each site.

Edward the Scop