Whitney (left), a former Air Force Academy golfer, tied for second place on Friday in the Panther Trail Classic, an Adams All Pro Tour event in The Woodlands, Texas.

Whitney shot rounds of 66-72 for a 6-under-par 138 total, which left him five strokes behind champion Sean Walsh of Keller, Texas. The performance was worth $2,637 for Whitney.

Elsewhere:

— Former University of Denver golfer Chris Gilman tied for fourth place on Friday in the Golden State Tour’s Season Opener in Oceanside, Calif. Gilman went 69-67 for a 6-under 136 total. That put him three strokes behind winner Stuart Macdonald of Rancho Mirage, Calif.

— And Boulder native and former Louisville resident George Cunningham and former University of Colorado golfer Jeremy Paul tied for ninth place on Wednesday in the Outlaw Tour’s McCormick Ranch Classic in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Cunningham carded rounds of 73-70-70 for a 3-under-par 213 total, while Paul went 69-75-69 for the same tally. Each earned $1,325. Mackenzie Brock won with a 206 total.

— Meanwhile, in the first of four qualifying tournaments in 2019 for PGA Tour Latinoamerica, AJ Morris of Aspen fell just short of earning conditional status for PTLA on Friday.

With the 13th- through 35th-place finishers and ties in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., landing conditional status, Morris placed 41st out of 112 players, two strokes shy of the final spots. He posted rounds of 68-73-73-78 for a 4-over-par 292 total.
 

A good example was the Web.com Tour Q-school First Stage tournament that concluded on Friday in St. George, Utah.

There, 2012 CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year Steven Kupcho (left) of Westminster shot a 5-under-par 65 to advance to Stage 2 on the number. And Riley Arp of Fort Collins fired a 68 to also move on — with no strokes to spare. Kupcho, a former University of Northern Colorado golfer, played his final 12 holes in 5 under.

On the other side of the cut line in Utah, Beau Schoolcraft of Denver appeared to be in good shape after going 69-64-64 the first three rounds. But a final-round 75 left him one stroke shy of advancing — just a shot behind Kupcho and Arp. Schoolcraft played his final three holes in 3 over par, with a bogey on 16 and a double bogey on 17.

All told, five players with strong Colorado connections advanced this week to the Second Stage of the three-stage process, thanks to finishing in the top 21 or 22 — depending on the First Stage site in which they competed.

Joining Kupcho and Arp in moving on on Friday were AJ Morris of Aspen (fourth place in West Palm Beach, Fla.); Josh Creel, who started his college career at the University of Colorado (12th place in Dayton, Nev.); and former University of Denver player Chris Gilman (17th place in Nevada).

That’s in addition to the four players with strong Colorado connections who advanced last month 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.

Among those falling short on Friday was Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo, another case that falls into the Q-school cruelty category. Makloski was in fourth place going into Friday in Dayton, Nev. — where the top 22 finishers and ties advanced — but a final-round 81 dropped him into 35th place.

See below for all the scores for local players and where they placed.

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)
Advance to Stage 2
12. Former CU golfer Josh Creel 70-71-72-72–285
17. Former DU golfer Chris Gilman 74-69-72-71-71–286
Failed to Advance
36. Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo 68-69-73-81–291
36. James Love, Denver 71-72-76-72–291
61. Former Coloradan Eric Hallberg 80-75-75-71–301

St. George, Utah (Top 21 Finishers and Ties After 72 Holes Advance to Stage 2)
Advance to Stage 2
20. Riley Arp, Fort Collins 68-67-68-68–271
20. Steven Kupcho, Westminster 70-67-69-65–271
Failed to Advance
25. Beau Schoolcraft, Denver 69-64-64-75–272
39. Mike Schoolcraft, Denver 73-70-69-63–275
39. Cole Nygren, Longmont 71-71-65-68–275
50. Tom Gempel, Lone Tree 68-71-72-67–278

The Woodlands, Texas (Top 22 Finishers and Ties After 72 Holes Advance to Stage 2)
Failed to Advance
30. Former Coloradan Tom Whitney 67-76-74-70–287
33. Jamie Marshall, Lone Tree 68-70-75-76–289

West Palm Beach, Fla. (Top 21 Finishers and Ties After 72 Holes Advance to Stage 2)
Advances to Stage 2
4. AJ Morris, Aspen 68-67-71-69–275
 

But there’s still work to do — 18 holes of it.

Beau Schoolcraft of Denver shot his second consecutive 6-under-par 66 and shares seventh place at the St. George, Utah Q-school site, where the top 21 finishers and ties after Friday’s final round will move on. The former University of Colorado golfer, who made seven birdies on Thursday, stands at 13-under-par 197. Former Colorado State golfer Riley Arp of Fort Collins (18th place at 203) is also on the right side of the cut line.

In Dayton, Nev., where the top 22 players and ties will advance, former Ram Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo is in fourth place at 6-under-par 210. Onetime CU golfer Josh Creel (11th place at 213) and former University of Denver golfer Chris Gilman (22nd at 215) are also in the top 22.

At other sites, AJ Morris of Aspen (10-under-par 206) shares fifth place in West Palm Beach, Fla., while Jamie Marshall of Lone Tree (3-under 213) is 20th in The Woodlands, Texas. The top 21 and ties will advance in Florida, and the top 22 and ties in Texas.

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)
4. Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo 68-69-73–210
11. Former CU golfer Josh Creel 70-71-72–213
22. Former DU golfer Chris Gilman 74-69-72–215
35. James Love, Denver 71-72-76–219
66. Former Coloradan Eric Hallberg 80-75-75–230

St. George, Utah (Top 21 Finishers and Ties After 72 Holes Advance to Stage 2)
7. Beau Schoolcraft, Denver 69-64-64–197
18. Riley Arp, Fort Collins 68-67-68–203
30. Steven Kupcho, Westminster 70-67-69–206
38. Cole Nygren, Longmont 71-71-65–207
52. Tom Gempel, Lone Tree 68-71-72–211
58. Mike Schoolcraft, Denver 73-70-69–212

The Woodlands, Texas (Top 22 Finishers and Ties After 72 Holes Advance to Stage 2)
20. Jamie Marshall, Lone Tree 68-70-75–213
35. Former Coloradan Tom Whitney 67-76-74–217

West Palm Beach, Fla. (Top 21 Finishers and Ties After 72 Holes Advance to Stage 2)
5. AJ Morris, Aspen 68-67-71–206
 

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
 

The former University of Colorado golfer finished strong to tie for sixth place in the Toshiba Classic in Newport Beach, Calif.

The 59-year-old had dropped back with a 1-over-par total on the front nine Sunday, but shot a 3-under-par 33 on the back nine to card a 2-under 69 in the final round. With three consecutive sub-par rounds (68-69-69), Jones finished at 7-under 206, four strokes behind winner Vijay Singh.

Jones, who counts the 1996 U.S. Open among his eight PGA Tour victories, hadn’t finished better than ninth in his 61 PGA Tour Champions starts prior to this week. But after last competing in an official tour event in November 2015, Jones (pictured) established a new personal Champions best. The showing on Sunday was worth $61,200.

For all the scores from the Toshiba Classic, CLICK HERE.

Elsewhere in tour golf this weekend:

— Hubbard Sixth in Web.com Event: Denver native Mark Hubbard, who like Jones grew up in Colorado, scored his second top-10 finish of the season on the Web.com Tour by tying for sixth Sunday in the El Bosque Mexico Championship.

The former CJGA Player of the Year, who is back on the Web circuit in 2018 after three seasons on the PGA Tour, went 73-65-70-71 for a 9-under 279 total. He made five birdies on Sunday, including one on the 18th hole.

Martin Trainer won the tourament at 274.

Hubbard’s other top-10 this season came at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic in January, where he placed 10th.

For all the scores from Mexico, CLICK HERE.

— Gilman Runner-up on Golden State Tour: Former University of Denver golfer Chris Gilman recorded his fourth top-10 finish in the last five Golden State Tour events by tying for second Friday in the Q-School Shootout in Santee, Calif.

Gilman posted scores of 70-69 for a 5-under-par 139 total, which left him three strokes behind champion Cody Blick of Alamo, Calif.

Gilman, a regular on the Web.com Tour in 2015, won the Moorpark Classic on the Golden State Tour last month.

The former University of Colorado golfer, winner of the 1996 U.S. Open, birdied his first three holes en route to a 3-under-par 68 Friday, which left him tied for ninth place after the first round.

Jones (pictured), an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour and a Colorado Sports Hall of Famer, made four birdies and one bogey in round 1 and trails leader Tom Pernice Jr., by four shots.

Jones, a 59-year-old who’s been plagued by injuries and ailments in his career, is playing in just his 62nd PGA Tour Champions event ever. It’s his first start this same tournament at the beginning of November 2015. Jones’ best finish in a PGA Tour Champions event is a ninth in the 2015 Senior PGA Championship.

Elsewhere in tour golf:

Gilman Runner-up on Golden State Tour: Former University of Denver golfer Chris Gilman recorded his fourth top-10 finish in the last five Golden State Tour events by tying for second Friday in the Q-School Shootout in Santee, Calif.

Gilman posted scores of 70-69 for a 5-under-par 139 total, which left him three strokes behind champion Cody Blick of Alamo, Calif.

Gilman, a regular on the Web.com Tour in 2015, won the Moorpark Classic on the Golden State Tour last month.

The former Colorado State University golfer placed fifth out of 44 players in the Dreamchasers Tour’s East Valley Championship, recording rounds of 72-65-73 for a 3-under-par 210 total at Longbow Golf Club. The showing was worth $1,950.

Edens (pictured), a two-time CGA Match Play runner-up, ended up nine strokes behind winner Zach Wright of Gilbert, Ariz.

Elsewhere on mini tours, former University of Denver golfer Chris Gilman finished ninth out of 93 players Wednesday at the Golden State Tour’s De Anza Classic in Borrego Springs, Calif

Gilman, who won a Golden State Tour event two weeks ago, carded scores of 66-69-71 for a 10-under-par 206 total. He finished six strokes behind champion Kramer Hickok of Dallas.
 

Gilman, the 2014 California State Open champion and a regular on the Web.com Tour in 2015, posted rounds of 67-71-70 at Rustic Canyon Golf Course to tie Christian Chang of San Diego at 8-under-par 208. But Gilman claimed the victory with the playoff birdie as Chang made par.

Gilman, who will have conditional status on PGA Tour Latinoamerica in 2018, eagled the 13th hole in Friday’s final round to go with four birdies and four bogeys. Gilman finished the week with 13 birdies and one eagle.

Both Gilman and Chang bogeyed the final hole in regulation.

For the 31-year-old former DU Pioneer, it was his second straight top-four finish on the Golden State Tour.
    

The former University of Colorado golfer, a two-time winner of the CoBank Colorado Open, posted rounds of 71-72-68-74 for a 3-under-par 285 total. Tolan played the two par-5s on the back nine in 3 over par, costing him a shot at exempt status for 2018.

The winner of the tournament (Cristobal Del Solar) will be exempt for the entire Latinoamerica season, while the next 10 finishers are exempt for the first half of the year. The rest of the players placing in the top 35 and ties will have conditional status.

Tolan (pictured) played in 11 PGA Tour Latinoamerica tournaments in 2015 and ’16 combined, recording a best finish of fifth place in 2015. The Denver native has also played in five PGA Tour events — including the 2002 U.S. Open as a 16-year-old — and 10 Web.com tournaments.

The PGA Tour Latinoamerica season begins March 15 with the Guatemala Open. Earlier this year, three other players with major Colorado ties also earned conditional status on PGA Tour Latinoamerica through other Q-school tournaments: former Buff golfer Jeremy Paul, Cole Nygren of Longmont and former University of Denver golfer Chris Gilman.

For scores from Q-school in Argentina, CLICK HERE.

No Weekend Play at Phoenix Open for Clark, but Laird in 8th Place: Denver native Wyndham Clark missed the cut on Friday in the Waste Management Phoenix Open, the eighth PGA Tour start of his pro career.

Clark, who made it into the field via a sponsor exemption, shot rounds of 74-73 for a 5-over-par 147 total at TPC Scottsdale.

It was an up-and-down two days for Clark, who has a Web.com Tour card this year. The winner of the 2017 Pac-12 title and the 2010 CGA Amateur made two birdies and five bogeys on Thursday. In round 2, he carded an eagle, three birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey.

Clark has made two cuts in his eight PGA Tour starts.

Meanwhile, former Colorado State University golfer Martin Laird, a Scottsdale resident, backed up his first-round 68 with a 67 on Friday afternoon and moved into a share of eighth place at 7-under 135. After a five-birdie, one-bogey day, he trails co-leaders Rickie Fowler and Bryson DeChambeau by three shots.

For Phoenix Open scores, CLICK HERE.

Former DU Golfer Arvidsson Leads in China: Former University of Denver golfer Oskar Arvidsson leads at the halfway point of an international PGA Tour China Q-school event in Haikou in southern China.

Arvidsson, who played in the 2016 British Open, fired a 5-under-par 67 on Friday, leaving him at 10-under 134 and with a two-stroke lead.

Former CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year Steven Kupcho shares 72nd place out of the 120-player field after rounds of 78-74.

The top 15 finishers after 72 holes will be fully exempt on PGA Tour China, with the next 25 conditionally exempt. This is the first of two international qualifiers for PGA Tour China.

For scores, CLICK HERE.

Top 10s in California for Gilman, Nygren: Former University of Denver golfer Chris Gilman and Longmont resident Cole Nygren recorded top-10 finishes Friday in a Golden State Tour tournament in Bakersfield, Calif.

Gilman placed fourth with a three-day total of 12-under-par 204, ending up four behind winner Manav Shah of Bakersfield. Gilman went 66-70-68.

Nygren, who like Gilman will have conditional status on PGA Tour Latinoamerica in 2018, finished 10th on Friday. He posted scores of 71-69-71 for a 5-under 211 total.
 

The two join former University of Colorado golfer Jeremy Paul in landing conditional status for this year. Paul placed 23rd last week at a Q-school tournament in Howie In The Hills, Fla.

Nygren (pictured), a rookie pro who finished fourth last summer in the CGA Amateur, ended up 26th out of 106 players in Mazatlan, while Gilman was 33rd.

The top 11 finishers received at least some exempt status on the Latinoamerica circuit, while those in 12th through 35th and ties earned conditional status.

Nygren, winner of the All Pro Championship at the inaugural Major Series of Putting on Halloween in Las Vegas, went 70-71-68-73 for a 6-under-par 282 total in Mazatlan. He carded three birdies and four bogeys in the final round.

Gilman, a regular on PGA Tour Canada last year, posted scores of 71-73-70-70 to end up at 284. He had four birdies and two bogeys on Friday.

For all the scores from Mazatlan, CLICK HERE.

Elsewhere on tour:

— Fort Collins resident Tom Whitney, trying to make his first cut ever on the PGA Tour, shares 36th place at the halfway point of the CareerBuilder Challenge in La Quinta, Calif., where he went to high school.

Despite a double bogey on his final hole Friday, the former Air Force Academy golfer has shot back-to-back rounds of 68 and stands at 8-under-par 136, leaving him eight strokes behind leader Andrew Landry.

Whitney, who made the field after receiving a sponsor exemption, recorded six birdies on Friday and will try to survive the 54-hole cut Saturday in La Quinta.

— Former CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year Steven Kupcho finished eighth at the Dreamchasers Tour’s Ocotillo Winter Championship that ended Thursday in Chandler, Ariz.

Kupcho, a former resident of Westminster, shot rounds of 67-73-65 for an 11-under-par 205 total. He made seven birdies in a bogey-free final round. Kupcho finished six stroke behind winner Shane Smith of Godfrey, Ill., in a field that featured 36 players.

— Former University of Colorado golfer Josh Creel posted two runner-up finishes this week on the Adams Pro Tour Winter Series. Creel, a Cheyenne resident who finished his college career at Central Oklahoma, placed second on Monday at the Woodforest Open in Montgomery, Texas, shooting a 69 and finishing two back of winner Sam Fidone.

Then on Friday, Creel went to a playoff in the 36-hole Lake Windcrest Championship in Magnolia, Texas, with he and Scott Kelly of Austin, Texas, tying at 6-under-par 138 and Kelly prevailing in sudden death. Creel carded rounds of 68-70.