With the top 24 finishers and ties following Friday’s final round moving on to the second stage, Jim Knous of Englewood shares eighth place while Zahkai Brown of Arvada is 17th and Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch 23rd.

Knous (pictured) made five birdies and shot a 4-under-par 68 on Thursday, leaving him at 12-under 204 heading into the final round. Brown, winner of the 2013 Colorado Open, checked in at 209 after a third-round 70. And two-time Colorado Open champ Tolan carded five birdies en route to a 69, leaving him at 210.

Coloradans Gunner Wiebe and Nick Mason advanced to the second stage of Q-school at first-stage tournaments last week.

Five more first-stage tourneys will be held next week.

Here are the results of players with strong Colorado connections at Q-school tournaments that started on Tuesday:

Lantana, Texas (top 24 finishers and ties advance to second stage)
8. Former School of Mines golfer Jim Knous of Englewood 67-69-68–204
17. Former CSU golfer Zahkai Brown of Arvada 70-69-70–209
23. Former CU golfer Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch 71-70-69–210

Maricopa, Ariz. (top 25 finishers and ties advance to second stage)
27. Nick Hodge of Littleton 72-69-69–210
61. Dustin Mills of Broomfield 75-73-71–219

Nebraska City (top 25 finishers and ties advance to second stage)
1. CU golfer Jeremy Paul 67-68–135
6. Former CU golfer Justin Bardgett 67-70–137
11. Former CU golfer David Oraee of Greeley 69-69–138
11. Former CU golfer Josh Creel 66-72–138
26. Former CSU golfer Parker Edens of Greeley 70-71–141
26. Former CU golfer Beau Schoolcraft of Denver 73-68–141
37. Miller Capps of Denver 72-71–143
46. Former CSU golfer Cameron Harrell of Colorado Springs 73-71–144
66. Former Coloradan Alex Gutesha 73-74–147
 

The First Stage of Q-school will be held at 13 sites across the country over the next two weeks. Five of the tournaments begin Tuesday (Oct. 18).

As usual, Colorado is well represented in the first of three stages that lead to the promised land — the PGA Tour — for a select few. About 25 players with strong Colorado connections will compete in the 72-hole tournaments that will decide who advances to one of the six Stage 2 events that will be held Nov. 15-19.

The Final Stage, where the top 25 finishers and ties will earn their 2012 PGA Tour cards, will be played in La Quinta, Calif., Nov. 30-Dec. 5. The rest of the Final Stage finishers will earn Nationwide Tour status for next year.

Among the Coloradans in the field this week or next are Colorado Open champions Ben Portie (2011, pictured above), Derek Tolan (2009) and Scott Petersen (2000), along with CGA Players of the Year Gunner Wiebe (2010), Steve Ziegler (2009), Pat Grady (2007 and 2008), Tolan (2005), Kane Webber (2003) and Portie (2001).

Also competing are former Coloradan Leif Olson, who once held his PGA Tour card, and ex-University of Denver golfer Danny Wax, a Nationwide Tour player this year.

Five players with local connections had to go through Pre-Qualifying just to get to the first Stage: Wiebe, Ziegler, former Colorado State golfers Riley Arp and Dustin Morris, and former University of Colorado golfer Justin Bardgett.

Eight of the 13 First Stage sites include players with Colorado ties in the field. The number of players who will advance from each site has yet to be determined, though about 20 is typical.

Here’s the rundown on which local players are entered:

Oct. 18-21 in Lakeland, Fla. — Kyle McCarthy of Denver.

Oct. 18-21 in McKinney, Texas — Scott Petersen of Parker.

Oct. 18-21 in Dayton, Nev. — Michael Baird of Castle Rock, former CU golfer Justin Bardgett, Cody Eberl of Lakewood, former CSU golfer Bryce Hanstad, former Durango resident Tom Kalinowski, former DU golfer Klinton Krieger, Nick Mason of Denver, Ben Portie of Westminster, Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch, Kane Webber of Denver.

Oct. 18-21 in Kingwood, Texas — Former CSU golfer Dustin Morris, Charlie Soule of Longmont, Steve Ziegler of Broomfield.

Oct. 25-28 in Lantana, Texas — Tom Glissmeyer of Colorado Springs, former Fort Collins resident Drew Stoltz.

Oct. 25-28 in Hollister, Calif. — Former Colorado resident Leif Olson, Gunner Wiebe of Aurora.

Oct. 26-29 in Valdosta, Calif. — Pat Grady of Broomfield, former DU golfer James Love, Blake Moore of Denver, former DU golfer Danny Wax.

Oct. 26-29 in Beaumont, Calif. — Riley Arp of Fort Collins, Zen Brown of Arvada.