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

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