Two past winners of the CoBank Colorado Open shot in the 60s on Wednesday in the first round of a Web.com Q-school second-stage tournament in McKinney, Texas.
Two-time Colorado Open champion Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch fired a 4-under-par 68 and shares 16th place, while 2013 Open winner Zahkai Brown of Arvada opened with a 69 and shares 25th place.
The top 19 finishers and ties after Saturday’s fourth round will advance to the third and final stage of Q-school. Anyone who makes the final stage — set for Dec. 8-11 in Winter Garden, Fla. — will be guaranteed at least conditional status on the 2017 Web circuit.
Tolan (pictured), a former University of Colorado golfer, made six birdies in Wednesday’s round, including four in a row beginning on hole No. 2 (his 11th hole). Brown, a former Colorado State University player, carded four birdies on Wednesday.
In second-stage tournaments held last week, CU golfer Jeremy Paul, former Buff Josh Creel, former Colorado State player Parker Edens and former Colorado School of Mines golfer Jim Knous all punched their tickets into the final stage.
Here are all the players with strong Colorado connections who are competing this week in second-stage Web.com Q-school tournaments:
McKinney, Texas Nov. 9-12 (Top 19 Finishers and Ties Advance)
16. Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch 68
25. Zahkai Brown of Arvada 69
49. David Oraee of Greeley 71
60. James Love of Denver 72
60. Gunner Wiebe of Aurora 72
Plantation, Fla. Nov. 8-11 (Top 18 Finishers and Ties Advance)
62. Former CU golfer Justin Bardgett 75-74–149
