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
 

A total of 14 locals are spread out over four First Stage tournaments across the country. And it’s “so far, so good” for nearly half of them.

Jimmy Makloski (left) of Pueblo, a former Colorado State University golfer, shares the lead at a First Stage tournament in Dayton, Nev., where the top 22 finishers and ties after four rounds will advance to the Second Stage. Makloski made five birdies and one bogey for a 68 on Tuesday.

Also in the top 10 at that site after round 1 are Josh Creel, who started his college golf career at the University of Colorado (sixth place at 70) and James Love of Denver (10th place at 71).

At The Woodlands, Texas, where 22 will advance on Friday, former Coloradan Tom Whitney fired a 5-under-par 67 and shares fourth place, while Jamie Marshall of Lone Tree opened with a 68, good for seventh place.

And in West Palm Beach, Fla., where 21 will make the Second Stage, Aspen’s AJ Morris carded a 4-under-par 68 and he’s in eighth place in that field.

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)
T1. Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo 68
6. Former CU golfer Josh Creel 70
10. James Love, Denver 71
31. Former DU golfer Chris Gilman 74
68. Former Coloradan Eric Hallberg 80

St. George, Utah (Top 21 Finishers and Ties After 72 Holes Advance to Stage 2)
24. Tom Gempel, Lone Tree 68
24. Riley Arp, Fort Collins 68
32. Beau Schoolcraft, Denver 69
41. Steven Kupcho, Westminster 70
49. Cole Nygren, Longmont 71
64. Mike Schoolcraft, Denver 73

The Woodlands, Texas (Top 22 Finishers and Ties After 72 Holes Advance to Stage 2)
4. Former Coloradan Tom Whitney 67
7. Jamie Marshall, Lone Tree 68

West Palm Beach, Fla. (Top 21 Finishers and Ties After 72 Holes Advance to Stage 2)
8. AJ Morris, Aspen 68
 

Clark (pictured), who will wrap up his college career at the University of Oregon in a couple of months, and Marshall tied for ninth place. The sixth- through 16th-place finishers are exempt for the first four events of the PGA Tour Canada season, then are subject to the first “re-shuffle”.

Clark, the 2010 CGA Amateur champion, was tied for the lead in San Jacinto through two rounds and carded scores of 66-69-74-72 for a 3-under-par 281 total. Marshall, a former University of Arkansas golfer, managed that same score after rounds of 71-70-69-71.

Meanwhile, Alex Gutesha, who grew up in Colorado, and Nathaniel Goddard of Fort Collins earned conditional status on PGA Tour Canada by finishing between 17th and 40th. Gutesha (71-71-73-74–289) placed 28th and Goddard (70-73-69-78–290), the 2016 CGA Match Play champion, ended up 33rd.

Last week, former University of Denver golfer Chris Gilman claimed medalist honors in the PGA Tour Canada Q-school tournament in Santee, Calif. Gilman will be exempt throughout the 2017 PGA Tour Canada season, which starts June 1.

Three more PGA Tour Canada Q-school tournaments will be held in the next two months.

— Greeley’s Edens Places Fourth in Dreamchasers Tour Event: In mini-tour action, Parker Edens of Greeley tied for fourth place on Thursday at the Dreamchasers Pro Golf Tour’s Lone Tree Championship in Chandler, Ariz.

The former Colorado State University golfer shot rounds of 69-68-69 for a 7-under-par 206 total, which left him four strokes behind winner Chris Tedesco of Gig Harbor, Wash.

Edens carded an eagle, eight birdies and a three bogeys over 54 holes.
 

The former Colorado State University golfer finished fifth Saturday out of a 131-person field at the Southwest Louisiana Open, the season opener for the Adams Pro Tour.

Arp (pictured), the 2010 CGA Public Links champion, posted top-10 finishes in all five of his 2017 starts on the Dreamchasers Tour, winning once and placing second once. Then against a much bigger field this week in Westlake, La., he carded four rounds in the 60s (68-63-69-67) for a 21-under-par 267 total, which left him seven strokes behind champion Steven Fox, who won the 2012 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club.

Over 72 holes, Arp racked up one eagle and 24 birdies. He earned $5,230.

Meanwhile, Jamie Marshall of Lone Tree tied for fifth on Thursday at the Dreamchasers Tour’s Moon Valley Winter Championship in Phoenix.

Marshall posted rounds of 70-66-69 for an 8-under-par 205 total, which left him seven strokes behind champion Ted Purdy of Phoenix, winner of the 2005 Byron Nelson Championship on the PGA Tour. Marshall made 13 birdies in three rounds.
 

And Jamie Marshall of Lone Tree and Eric Hallberg of Parker made the First Stage by tying for 23rd in La Quinta, Calif., where the top 39 and ties punched their First Stage tickets.

Including Pre-Qualifying, there are four stages in Web.com Q-School. The top 45 finishers and ties from the final stage will have some level of regular status on the 2017 Web.com Tour, depending on how high they finish. Others who complete all 72 holes will have conditional status.
   
Two more Pre-Qualifying tournaments are scheduled Sept. 7-9. First Stage tournaments begin either Sept. 27, Oct. 4 or Oct. 11.
   
Here are the scores for all of the golfers with strong Colorado ties who competed in Pre-Qualifying this week:

Lincoln, Neb. (Top 38 finishers and ties advance)
12. Beau Schoolcraft of Denver 71-67-74–212
19. Dustin Mills of Broomfield 68-74-72–214
25. David Oraee of Greeley 70-73-72–215
25. Miller Capps of Denver 72-71-72–215
47. Former CU golfer Kevin Kring 75-75-72–222
62. Brandon Barron of Centennial 75-78-74–227
76. Chris Winter of Colorado Springs 93-80-80–253

La Quinta, Calif. (Top 39 finishers and ties advance)
23. Jamie Marshall of Lone Tree 80-68-75–223
23. Eric Hallberg of Parker 79-72-72–223

Woodland, Calif. (Top 36 and ties advance)
50. Dave Jackson of Castle Rock 77-73-74–224
 

Beau Schoolcraft of Denver moved up to fourth place at a tournament in Lincoln, Neb., thanks to a 4-under-par 67 on Thursday that left him at 4-under 138 overall. He made six birdies on the day.

With the top 38 finishers and ties from the site advancing to the First Stage of Q-school, also on the right side of the cut line after two days are Dustin Mills of Broomfield (142, 18th place), David Oraee of Greeley (143, 26th place) and amateur Miller Capps of Denver (143, 26th place).

Then at La Quinta, Calif., two more Coloradans rallied on Thursday to move inside the cut line. Jamie Marshall of Lone Tree followed up an 80 with a five-birdie 68 that put him in 19th place at 148. And Eric Hallberg of Parker has gone 79-72 to check in at 36th place at 151. The top 39 finishers and ties advance from La Quinta.

Including Pre-Qualifying, there are four stages in Web.com Q-School. The top 45 finishers and ties from the final stage will have some level of regular status on the 2017 Web.com Tour, depending on how high they finish. Others who complete all 72 holes will have conditional status.

Two more Pre-Qualifying tournaments are scheduled Sept. 7-9.

Here are the scores for all of the golfers with strong Colorado ties who are competing in Pre-Qualifying this week:

Lincoln, Neb. (Top 38 finishers and ties advance)
4. Beau Schoolcraft of Denver 71-67–138
18. Dustin Mills of Broomfield 68-74–142
26. David Oraee of Greeley 70-73–143
26. Miller Capps of Denver 72-71–143
54. Former DU golfer Kevin Kring 75-75–150
64. Brandon Barron of Centennial 75-78–153
76. Chris Winter of Colorado Springs 93-80–173

La Quinta, Calif. (Top 39 finishers and ties advance)
19. Jamie Marshall of Lone Tree 80-68–148
36. Eric Hallberg of Parker 79-72–151

Woodland, Calif. (Top 36 and ties advance)
56. Dave Jackson of Castle Rock 77-73–150
 

Q-school, that is.

After a few weeks off since the initial stages of qualifying for the 2014 LPGA Tour and Web.com Tour, things heat up again starting Tuesday.

The LPGA Tour is at stage II of the three-stage qualifying process, with a single tournament set for this week — Tuesday through Friday — in Venice, Fla.

The Web.com Tour, now the top U.S.-based men’s tour that still features a Q-school, completed pre-qualifying tournaments late in the summer and now is ready for the “first stage” of the three remaining.

In both cases, numerous golfers who made a name for themselves in Colorado are pursuing their dreams of reaching some of the top levels of competitive golf.

Here is what’s upcoming this week, with the local players in the field:

LPGA Stage II Oct. 8-11 in Venice, Fla. — A total of 195 players will take part in this 72-hole, no-cut event. After four rounds, the top 80 finishers and ties will advance to the final stage of LPGA Tour qualifying, set for Dec. 4-8 in Daytona, Beach, Fla.

Players with significant Colorado ties in the field are Ashley Tait of Littleton (pictured above), Dawn Shockley of Estes Park, and former University of Colorado golfers Jessica Wallace, Alex Stewart and Emily Childs. Childs and Stewart, who each played just one season at CU, competed in the stage I qualifying tournament to earn a berth in this week’s event.

As for the first stage of Web.com Tour Q-school, it’s being contested at a dozen sites over the next three weeks. The fields for later in the month haven’t yet be announced, but this week’s are finalized. Likewise to be determined is the exact number of players from each site that will advance to stage 2, but a total more than 20 is expected.

The second stage of Web.com Tour Q-school will be held at six sites in mid-November, while the final stage is Dec. 12-17 in La Quinta, Calif. The top 45 finishers and ties in La Quinta will receive priority status on the 2014 Web.com Tour, with the other finalists being conditionally exempt.

Here are the players with strong Colorado ties scheduled to compete in 72-hole first-stage tournaments this week, Tuesday through Friday:

Maricopa, Ariz. Oct. 8-11 — Tom Glissmeyer of Colorado Springs, Jim Knous of Basalt, former Colorado Springs resident Justin Spray, former CSU golfer Kirby Pettitt, former Castle Rock resident Jamie Marshall.

Lantana, Texas Oct. 8-11 — Riley Arp of Fort Collins, James Love of Denver, former CSU golfer Dustin Morris, former Fort Collins resident Drew Stoltz.

Vero Beach, Fla. Oct. 8-11 — Former CU golfer Kevin Kring.

Lakeland, Fla. Oct. 8-11 — Former CU golfer Jason Burstyn.