Both Coloradans who are competing in the final stage of PGA Tour Champions Q-school finished strong in the first round on Tuesday in Scottsdale, Ariz., but will likely need some low rounds to earn fully-exempt status for 2018.
Gary Hallberg (left) played his last five holes in 2 under par to shoot a 1-under 70 at TPC Scottsdale, leaving him in a tie for 29th place after round 1. And Doug Rohrbaugh birdied his final two holes to post a 1-over 72, putting him in 45th place.
The top five finishers after 72 holes will earn full cards for next year on the senior circuit. The fifth-place player after day 1 was Tommy Tolles, who carded a 65. Brian Henninger fired a bogey-free 10-under-par 61 to lead the 78-man field.
Hallberg, winner of three PGA Tour events and one on PGA Tour Champions, has competed in 185 senior tour events over the last decade. But last year, with limited status, he made just 12 starts, his fewest since joining the tour in 2008.
Rohrbaugh, a three-time Colorado PGA Professional Champion and the 2013 CoBank Colorado Senior Open winner, has played in nine PGA Tour Champions events over the years, including six as a conditional member in 2015.
Here are the scores for the Coloradans competing in Q-school this week:
Nov. 28-Dec. 1 in Scottsdale, Ariz.
29. Coloradan Gary Hallberg 70
45. Coloradan Doug Rohrbaugh 72
