Creel assured himself as much by finishing eighth at a second stage Q-school tournament on Friday in Murrieta, Calif.
The top 18 players and ties from the event will advance to the final stage of Q-school, set for Dec. 6-9 in Chandler, Ariz., where 2019 Web.com Tour cards will be distributed.
Creel, a former NCAA Division II champion at Central Oklahoma, shot under-par rounds each day in Murrieta, going 69-70-71-69 for a 9-under 279 total. He made four birdies on Friday and 17 for the week, to go with two eagles.
Creel has played in five Web.com Tour events in his career and finished 10th in the 2017 Digital Ally Open.
Former CU golfer Yannik Paul and Zahkai Brown of Golden both fell a little shy of advancing to the final stage on Friday. Paul (22nd place at 284) missed by two strokes, and Brown (29th place at 286) by four.
Four more second stage tournaments will be held next week.
Here are this week’s second stage scores for all the players with strong Colorado ties:
Q-School Second Stage (Oct. 30-Nov. 2)
Murrieta, Calif. (Top 18 Finishers and Ties Advance to Final Stage)
Advances to Final Stage
8. Former CU golfer Josh Creel of Cheyenne, Wyo. 69-70-71-69–279
Failed to Advance
22. Former CU golfer Yannik Paul 72-74-66-72–284
29. Zahkai Brown of Golden 72-75-69-70–286
But darned near.
The Highlands Ranch resident has made just one bogey — or worse — at the halfway point of the tournament. And to go with it, he’s carded an eagle and 11 birdies through Wednesday’s round.
Clark, who finished 17th in the PGA Tour’s Sanderson Farms Championship on Sunday, has shot 66-66 and leads the Q-school tournament by three at 12-under-par 132.
The top 20 finishers and ties after Friday’s last round will advance to the Final Stage of Web qualifying, set for Dec. 7-10 in Chandler, Ariz.
Also in the top 20 after two rounds are Parker Edens of Greeley and Riley Arp of Fort Collins, two former Colorado State University golfers who share 12th place after 36 holes at 4-under 140.
Edens recorded a 1-under 71 on Wednesday despite a triple-bogey 7 on his final hole on Wednesday. He made six birdies on the day, including four in a row starting on No. 11.
Arp carded a 72 on Wednesday, with four birdies and four bogeys.
Three more Second Stage tournaments are scheduled for next week.
Here are the scores for all the Coloradans competing this week:
Murrieta, Calif. (Top 20 Finishers and Ties Advance to Final Stage)
1. Wyndham Clark, Highlands Ranch 66-66–132
12. Parker Edens, Greeley 69-71–140
12. Riley Arp, Fort Collins 68-72–140
64. Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo 76-74–150
Dothan, Ala. (Top 19 Finishers and Ties Advance to Final Stage)
55. Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch 73-76–149
In the Second Stage Q-school event in Murrieta, Calif., just 14 of the 76 competitors broke 70 on Tuesday, and three of those were from Colorado.
Wyndham Clark of Highlands Ranch, fresh off a PGA Tour career-best 17th-place finish in the Sanderson Farms Championship, took the first-round lead in the 72-hole event by shooting a bogey-free 6-under-par 66. The 2017 Pac-12 Player of the Year birdied three holes on each side at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta.
Tied for third on Tuesday was Riley Arp of Fort Collins, who posted a 68. He made an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys in round 1.
Another former Colorado State University golfer, Parker Edens of Greeley, is another stroke back at 69, sharing eighth place. Edens carded six birdies and three bogeys on Tuesday.
The tournament will continue through Friday, with the top finishers advancing to the Final Stage of Web qualifying, set for Dec. 7-10 in Chandler, Ariz.
Three more Second Stage tournaments are scheduled for next week.
Here are the scores for all the Coloradans competing this week:
Murrieta, Calif.
1. Wyndham Clark, Highlands Ranch 66
3. Riley Arp, Fort Collins 68
8. Parker Edens, Greeley 69
64. Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo 76
Dothan, Ala. (Top 19 Finishers and Ties Advance to Final Stage)
33. Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch 73