Four players out of the six with strong Colorado connections competing this week in a First Stage Q-school event in Maricopa, Ariz., kept their hopes alive for earning a 2019 Web.com Tour card.
Former University of Colorado golfer Yannik Paul (left) shared medalist honors on Friday, while twin brother — and fellow ex-Buff — Jeremy Paul tied for fifth. Meanwhile, two former Colorado State University golfers also advanced to Second Stage — Blake Cannon (fifth place) and Golden’s Zahkai Brown (12th).
Brown, the 2013 CoBank Colorado Open champion, rocketed up the scoreboard with a 7-under-par 65 in the final round, which left him at 11-under 277, five behind Yannik Paul and fellow co-medalists Norman Xiong of Las Vegas and Canadian Jamie Sadlowski. Brown made eight birdies in the final round to jump up 22 spots.
The top 21 finishers and ties — all those at 279 or better — moved on to the Second Stage of Q-school.
Yannik Paul closed with a 73 on Friday after going 66-66-67 in the previous rounds. Jeremy Paul and Cannon checked in at 274 after both carding final-round 71s.
Numerous other First Stage tournaments are scheduled for the next two weeks. Then there will be five Second Stage tourneys from Oct. 30-Nov. 9. The Final Stage is Dec. 6-9 in Chandler, Ariz., where 2018 Web.com Tour cards will be distributed.
Here are this week’s First-Stage scores for all the players with strong Colorado ties:
Maricopa, Ariz.
(Top 21 and Ties Advance to Second Stage)
Advance to Second Stage
T1. Former CU golfer Yannik Paul, Boulder 66-66-67-73–272
5. Former CSU golfer Blake Cannon 64-70-69-71–274
5. Former CU golfer Jeremy Paul 68-67-68-71–274
12. Zahkai Brown, Golden 72-69-71-65–277
Failed to Advance
36. Nick Mason, Parker 74-69-74-68–285
49. Glenn Workman, Pueblo West 73-73-72-70–288
