They’re setting a very high standard at the Web.com Tour Q-school tournament in McKinney, Texas this week. And with one round remaining, no Coloradans are inside the qualifying line that will determine who advances to the final stage.
But a couple of locals are very close.
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.
After Friday’s third round, the top local players are James Love of Denver and Gunner Wiebe of Aurora. Even though both are 10 under par through three days, they’re in 20th place — one spot out of what is necessary to advance.
Love (pictured), the former University of Denver golfer who shot 59 in a first-stage tournament last month, carded a 7-under-par 65 on Friday after playing his first nine holes in 6-under 30. He finished with eight birdies and a bogey on the day.
Also at 10-under 206 is Wiebe, who carded a third-round 71.
Had the tournament ended on Friday, 11-under-par 205 would have been the cut-off point for advancing to the final stage of Q-school in McKinney.
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)
20. James Love of Denver 72-69-65–206
20. Gunner Wiebe of Aurora 72-63-71–206
42. David Oraee of Greeley 71-66-72–209
50. Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch 68-74-69–211
57. Zahkai Brown of Arvada 69-75-68–212
Plantation, Fla. Nov. 8-11 (Top 18 Finishers and Ties Advance)
Failed to Advance to Final Stage
59. Former CU golfer Justin Bardgett 75-74-70-73–291
