A new day brought a new Coloradan leading a First Stage Web.com Tour Q-school tournament.
A day after Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo sat atop the scoreboard in an event in Dayton, Nev., AJ Morris of Aspen did the honors on Wednesday at the halfway point of a tourney in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Morris (left) shot a 5-under-par 67 in the second round to move into a tie for the top spot at 9-under 135. Morris had a spectacular finish in round 2, making two eagles and a birdie in his last five holes. He finished the day with two eagles, three birdies and two bogeys.
With either the top 21 or 22 finishers and ties after four rounds advancing to the Second Stage depending on the site, eight players with strong Colorado connections are on the good side of the cut line with two days left. That includes Makloski, who’s in second place in Nevada as a second-round 69 put him at 7-under 137 and one out of the lead. Makloski carded an eagle, three birdies and two bogeys on Wednesday.
Other locals in the top 20 after Wednesday are Josh Creel, James Love and Chris Gilman in Nevada; Beau Schoolcraft and Riley Arp in St. George, Utah; and Jamie Marshall in The Woodlands, Texas. Schoolcraft shot a 6-under 64 on Wednesday to move into 10th place.
(See all the local scores and places below.)
Last month, four players with strong Colorado connections advanced from a First Stage Q-school tournament to Second Stage — Zahkai Brown of Golden, fellow former CSU golfer Blake Cannon, and former CU players Yannik and Jeremy Paul.
Next up, there will be five Second Stage Q-school tournmaments 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:
Q-School First Stage (Oct. 9-12)
Dayton Nev. (Top 22 Finishers and Ties After 72 Holes Advance to Stage 2)
2. Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo 68-69–137
7. Former CU golfer Josh Creel 70-71–141
16. James Love, Denver 71-72–143
16. Former DU golfer Chris Gilman 74-69–143
69. Former Coloradan Eric Hallberg 80-75–155
St. George, Utah (Top 21 Finishers and Ties After 72 Holes Advance to Stage 2)
10. Beau Schoolcraft, Denver 69-64–133
18. Riley Arp, Fort Collins 68-67–135
32. Steven Kupcho, Westminster 70-67–137
43. Tom Gempel, Lone Tree 68-71–139
59. Cole Nygren, Longmont 71-71–142
62. Mike Schoolcraft, Denver 73-70–143
The Woodlands, Texas (Top 22 Finishers and Ties After 72 Holes Advance to Stage 2)
10. Jamie Marshall, Lone Tree 68-70–138
31. Former Coloradan Tom Whitney 67-76–143
West Palm Beach, Fla. (Top 21 Finishers and Ties After 72 Holes Advance to Stage 2)
T1. AJ Morris, Aspen 68-67–135
