This is the third and final dynamic post in this year's series concerning the resurrected PGA Tour Q-School. The next recap, which will drop in December after Final Stage, is not considered dynamic since there's only one site for the finals held at TPC Sawgrass, headquarters of the PGA Tour. At all Second Stage sites, the top fifteen and ties advanced or (in the case of Week 2 of Second Stage at November's end) will advance to finals. As with previous recaps, I list each site with medallist or medallists, as well as a rundown of any Umcees who played each site.
Players marked with (PQ) started in prequalifying. Those marked with (I) started in First Stage.
Week I: AL, FL, GA-1
Highland Oaks Golf Club/Marshwood Course, Dothan, Alabama, par 72, 7632yd
Medallists: Connor Burgess, Richmond, Virginia and Mark Goetz, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, both -19/269 (Burgess 66-68-67-68; Goetz 69-62-71-67)
Burgess played a more defensive game to get to the top billing for this site, leading the field in bogey avoidance (67/72 holes). Goetz, meanwhile, played a more aggressive game, leading in par-breakers with 26 but suffering bogey to share plaudits with Burgess. Both now receive guaranteed Korn Ferry Tour starts in 2024.
Umcees advancing to Final Stage
T8: Alex Schaake, Omaha, Nebraska/University of Iowa alumnus (I) (-9/77-70-66-66=279)
Despite a ruinous opening 77, Schaake wasted little time in the interests of atonement, carding back-to-back -6 rounds.
Umcees who missed out: Tripp Kinney, Des Moines, IA (I); Brady Madsen, Raymond, MN (PQ); Harrison Ott, Brookfield, WI (I)
The Tesoro Club/Palmer Course, Port St Lucie, Florida, par 72, 7316yd
Medallists: K.K. Limbhasut, Thailand and Danny Walker, Jacksonville, FL, both -11/277 (Limbhasut 72-70-67-68; Walker 69-72-68-68)
Limbhasut co-led the field in bogey avoidance, suffering only six bogeys or worse, and a closing birdie secured his share of the honours. Walker had the best par-5 score (-13).
Umcees advancing to Final Stage
T3: Van Holmgren, Fort Myers, Florida/formerly of Plymouth, Minnesota (I) (-9/72-71-66-70=279)
He failed to hold on to his share of top spot, but he is still headed to TPC Sawgrass with PGA Tour Americas status secured. The key was his third round, which got him into the lead heading into the final eighteen holes, as he had seven birdies against just one bogey.
Umcees who missed out: Angus Flanagan, Woking, Surrey, UK/University of Minnesota '21; Will Grevlos, Sioux Falls, SD/University of Minnesota '21
The Landings Club/Deer Creek Course, Savannah, Georgia, par 72, 7185yd
Medallist: Bryson Nimmer, Okatie, South Carolina (-15/72-71-68-62=273)
He saved his best for last, as he was just -5 heading to the final round. Then he went a bogey-free -10/62, finishing with six birdies on the back nine. This included a birdie at the last, which entitled him to the only outright medal of the week.
Umcees advancing to Final Stage
T9: Andre Metzger, Sioux Falls, SD (part-time resident) (I) (-9/72-74-68-65=279)
A second-round +2/74 seemed to render him toast, but the next day, he got under par with a -4/68 before surging in the final round enough to advance. He had the third-most birdies of the week with 22.
Umcees missing out: Zach Burry, Appleton, Wisconsin (I); Jack Ebner, Edina, Minnesota (PQ)
Week II: CA, GA-2
Valencia Country Club, Valencia, California, par 72, 7300yd
Medallist: Jeffrey Kang, Los Angeles, California (-11/66-71-67-73=277)
Despite an underwhelming +1 final round, Kang led in all major scoring metrics with the most par-breakers and best bogey avoidance of anyone at the site. Now, despite making only six starts on this year's PGA Tour Canada--which probably cost him exemption into Final Stage off the bat--the USC alumnus can look forward to guaranteed starts on next year's Korn Ferry Tour.
Umcees advancing to Final Stage
T2: Thomas Longbella, Chippewa Falls, WI/University of Minnesota '21 (-8/73-71-66-70=280)
One of only three players to finish in 280 or fewer strokes (along with Kang and Christian Banke of Scottsdale, Arizona), Longbella keyed in on progression in particular during the third round. He tied for the most par-breakers on that round with seven--six birdies and an eagle--and was the only Umcee to advance to finals on week 2 of Second Stage, a year after missing out. Not bad for a guy who actually regressed in the final Fortinet Cup standings relative to last year!
Umcees missing out: Derek Hitchner, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Ben Sigel, Deephaven, MN (I); Matthew Walker, Ottumwa, IA (I)
Kinderlou Forest Golf Club, Valdosta, Georgia, par 72, 7780yd
Medallist: Aldrich Potgieter, South Africa (-13/67-69-68-71=275)
His 23 par-breakers were the most of any player at this site, and he also had the lowest score on par-5s (-10).
No Umcees made it to Final Stage from this site. Those missing out: Hunter Eichhorn, Chattanooga, TN/Marquette University (I); George Kneiser, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Umcees making it to Final Stage: Frankie Capan III (exempt); Van Holmgren (I); Thomas Longbella (I); Andre Metzger (I); Alex Schaake (I)
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