The top 19 finishers and ties after four rounds of the Web.com Q-school second-stage tournament in McKinney, Texas earned spots into the final stage of Q-school, where all the players will at least receive conditional status on the Web circuit in 2019.

Former University of Colorado golfer Jeremy Paul finished 20th on Friday. One stroke better anywhere along the line during four days and Paul would have some status on the Web circuit next year. But it was not to be.

Paul, who holds the CU record for career stroke average, made four birdies in a round of 2-under-par 70 on Friday, but a bogey on the par-4 16th hole proved costly. He ended up at 8-under-par 280 for a week when 279 was necessary to advance.

In all, seven players with strong connections to Colorado competed in second stage tournaments this week, and all seven failed to advance to the final stage. Steven Kupcho of Westminster missed by four strokes in McKinney and former Colorado State University golfer Blake Cannon by five. Former Golden resident Andrew Svoboda missed the mark by five in Plantation, Fla.

Former CU golfer Josh Creel, from Cheyenne, earned a spot in the Q-school finals last week in a second stage tournament in Murrieta, Calif. The final stage will be held Dec. 6-9 in Chandler, Ariz., where 2019 Web.com Tour cards will be distributed.

Here are this week’s second stage scores for all the players with strong Colorado ties:

Q-School Second Stage (Nov. 6-9)
McKinney, Texas (Top 19 Finishers and Ties Advance to Final Stage)
Failed to Advance
20. Former CU golfer Jeremy Paul 70-69-71-70–280
33. Steven Kupcho of Westminster 74-71-67-71–283
37. Former CSU golfer Blake Cannon 72-71-68-73–284
51. Riley Arp of Fort Collins 70-73-71-74–288

Mobile, Ala. (Top 19 Finishers and Ties Advance to Final Stage)
Failed to Advance
59. Former DU golfer Chris Gilman 71-69-72-70–282

Plantation, Fla. (Top 18 Finishers and Ties Advance to Final Stage)
Failed to Advance
35. Former Golden resident Andrew Svoboda 68-68-70-74–280
64. AJ Morris of Aspen 72-72-72-72–288
 

Of the seven players competing who have strong ties to Colorado, six are under par through three rounds of the 72-hole tournaments.

And how many would have advanced to the final stage of Q-school if the tournaments had ended on Thursday?

Zero.

In other words, all seven will need to rally in Friday’s final rounds if they want to keep alive their hopes of earning Web.com Tour cards for 2019.

Former Golden resident Andrew Svoboda, once a PGA Tour regular, remains the top local through three rounds. A 1-under-par 70 on Thursday leaves him in 19th place at 7-under 206 in a second-stage event in Plantation, Fla. The top 18 finishers and ties at the site will advance to the final stage of Q-school. Svoboda made five birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey on Thursday.

At a tournament in McKinney, Texas, where the top 19 and ties will move on, three players are in the top 45 — former University of Colorado golfer Jeremy Paul (33rd place at 6-under 210), former Colorado State University player Blake Cannon (37th place at 211) and Steven Kupcho of Westminster (43rd place at 212). As of Thursday night, 9 under par or better was in the top 19.

Former CU golfer Josh Creel, from Cheyenne, earned a spot in the Q-school finals last week in a second stage tournament in Murrieta, Calif. The final stage will be held Dec. 6-9 in Chandler, Ariz., where 2019 Web.com Tour cards will be distributed.

Here are this week’s second stage scores for all the players with strong Colorado ties:

Q-School Second Stage (Nov. 6-9)
McKinney, Texas (Top 19 Finishers and Ties Will Advance to Final Stage)
33. Former CU golfer Jeremy Paul 70-69-71–210
37. Former CSU golfer Blake Cannon 72-71-68–211
43. Steven Kupcho of Westminster 74-71-67–212
51. Riley Arp of Fort Collins 70-73-71–214

Mobile, Ala. (Top 19 Finishers and Ties Will Advance to Final Stage)
62. Former DU golfer Chris Gilman 71-69-72–212

Plantation, Fla. (Top 18 Finishers and Ties Will Advance to Final Stage)
19. Former Golden resident Andrew Svoboda 68-68-70–206
64. AJ Morris of Aspen 72-72-72–216
 

Now he’s trying to regain fully-exempt status on the Web circuit, and so far, he’s on the right track.

Svoboda shot his second straight 3-under-par 68 on Wednesday in a Web.com Tour second stage Q-school event in Plantation, Fla. That leaves him in a share of 17th place at a site where the top 18 finishers and ties after four rounds will advance to the final stage of qualifying.

Svoboda made three birdies and no bogeys on Wednesday.

The only other player with strong Colorado ties in the top 25 at the halfway point of a second stage tournament this week is former University of Colorado golfer Jeremy Paul. Paul, who competed in a dozen Web events in 217, sits in 23rd place in McKinney, Texas, where the top 19 finishers and ties will advance. The German made five birdies and fired a 3-under-par 69 on Wednesday to check in at 5-under 139 overall.

Former CU golfer Josh Creel, from Cheyenne, earned a spot in the Q-school finals last week in a second stage tournament in Murrieta, Calif. The final stage will be held Dec. 6-9 in Chandler, Ariz., where 2019 Web.com Tour cards will be distributed.

Here are this week’s second stage scores for all the players with strong Colorado ties:

Q-School Second Stage (Nov. 6-9)
McKinney, Texas (Top 19 Finishers and Ties Will Advance to Final Stage)
23. Former CU golfer Jeremy Paul 70-69–139
44. Riley Arp of Fort Collins 70-73–143
44. Former CSU golfer Blake Cannon 72-71–143
55. Steven Kupcho of Westminster 74-71–145

Mobile, Ala. (Top 19 Finishers and Ties Will Advance to Final Stage)
39. Former DU golfer Chris Gilman 71-69–140

Plantation, Fla. (Top 18 Finishers and Ties Will Advance to Final Stage)
17. Former Golden resident Andrew Svoboda 68-68–136
64. AJ Morris of Aspen 72-72–144
 

Former Golden resident Andrew Svoboda shot a 3-under-par 68 on Tuesday and shares 17th place in Plantation, Fla., where the top 18 finishers and ties after four rounds will advance. The former PGA Tour player made four birdies and one bogey in round 1 and trails leader MJ Daffue of Kingwood, Texas by five strokes.

In McKinney, Texas, where the top 19 finishers and ties will earn spots in the Q-school finals, the top players with Colorado ties are Riley Arp of Fort Collins and former University of Colorado golfer Jeremy Paul, who share 22nd place after opening with 70s.

Former CU golfer Josh Creel, from Cheyenne, earned a spot in the Q-school finals last week in a second stage tournament in Murrieta, Calif. The final stage will be held Dec. 6-9 in Chandler, Ariz., where 2019 Web.com Tour cards will be distributed.

Here are this week’s second stage scores for all the players with strong Colorado ties:

Q-School Second Stage (Nov. 6-9)
McKinney, Texas (Top 19 Finishers and Ties Will Advance to Final Stage)
22. Riley Arp of Fort Collins 70
22. Former CU golfer Jeremy Paul 70
42. Former CSU golfer Blake Cannon 72
62. Steven Kupcho of Westminster 74

Mobile, Ala. (Top 19 Finishers and Ties Will Advance to Final Stage)
40. Former DU golfer Chris Gilman 71

Plantation, Fla. (Top 18 Finishers and Ties Will Advance to Final Stage)
17. Former Golden resident Andrew Svoboda 68
55. AJ Morris of Aspen 72
 

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
 

After rounds of 72-74 earlier in the week, Paul (left) rebounded with a 6-under-par 66 at Bear Creek Golf Club to jump into a tie for 18th place at 4-under 212 going into Friday’s final round.

The top 18 finishers and ties on Friday will advance to the final stage of Q-school.

Paul made two eagles on the front nine on Thursday and finished an eventful day with two eagles, five birdies and three bogeys.

Meanwhile, Josh Creel of Cheyenne, who started his college golf career at CU before transferring to Central Oklahoma, moved up to seventh place on Thursday. The former NCAA Division II individual champion posted a 1-under 71 to check in at 6-under 210. He made an eagle, four birdies, a bogey and two double bogeys in round 3.

Zahkai Brown of Golden carded a 69 on Thursday which lifted him into 33rd place at 216. He finished with five birdies and two bogeys in the third round.

Four more Second Stage tournaments will be held next week. The Final Stage is Dec. 6-9 in Chandler, Ariz., where 2019 Web.com Tour cards will be distributed.

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 After 72 Holes Advance to Final Stage)
7. Former CU golfer Josh Creel of Cheyenne, Wyo. 69-70-71–210
18. Former CU golfer Yannik Paul 72-74-66–212
33. Zahkai Brown of Golden 72-75-69–216

The top 18 finishers and ties after 72 holes will advance to the final stage of Q-school.

Creel, the national Division II player of the year at Central Oklahoma in 2012, made four birdies and two bogeys in posting a 2-under-par 70 on Wednesday. That left him at 5-under-par 139 overall, eight strokes behind leader Armando Favelo of Chula Vista, Calif.

The other players with significant Colorado-area ties competing this week will need to rally in the final two rounds to get inside the top 18. Former University of Colorado golfer Yannik Paul is tied for 40th place at 146, while Zahkai Brown of Golden is 43rd at 147.

Four more Second Stage tournaments will be held next week. The Final Stage is Dec. 6-9 in Chandler, Ariz., where 2019 Web.com Tour cards will be distributed.

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 After 72 Holes Advance to Final Stage)
10. Former CU golfer Josh Creel of Cheyenne, Wyo. 69-70–139
40. Former CU golfer Yannik Paul 72-74–146
43. Zahkai Brown of Golden 72-75–147
 

Josh Creel of Cheyenne, who started his college golf career at the University of Colorado, opened with a 3-under-par 69 in Murrieta, Calif., leaving him in 10th place with three rounds remaining.

Meanwhile, 2013 CoBank Colorado Open champion Zahkai Brown of Golden and former CU golfer Yannik Paul posted 72s and share 30th place.

The top 18 finishers and ties after 72 holes will advance to the final stage of Q-school.

Creel made an eagle, five birdies and four bogeys on Tuesday. He trails leader Dusty Fielding of Richfield, Utah, the 2015 Rocky Mountain Open champion, by four strokes. Brown careded three birdies and three bogeys and Paul two birdies and two bogeys.

Four more Second Stage tournaments will be held next week. The Final Stage is Dec. 6-9 in Chandler, Ariz., where 2019 Web.com Tour cards will be distributed.

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 After 72 Holes Advance to Final Stage)
10. Former CU golfer Josh Creel of Cheyenne, Wyo. 69
30. Zahkai Brown of Golden 72
30. Former CU golfer Yannik Paul 72
 

The top 21 finishers and ties from this First Stage site — where 74 golfers competed — will advance.

Tolan, a two-time CoBank Colorado Open champion from Highlands Ranch who played his college golf at the University of Colorado, and Korte, a former University of Denver golfer who lives in Littleton, both tied for 34th place at 9-over-par 293.

Tolan closed with a 2-over 73 on Friday, making three birdies, three bogeys and a final-hole double bogey.

Korte fired a 74 on Friday. He was 1 under for the day through 13 holes, but went 4 over the rest of the way.

Last week, four players with strong Colorado connections advanced from a First Stage Q-school tournament to Second Stage — Zahkai Brown of Golden, fellow former Colorado State University golfer Blake Cannon, and former CU players Yannik and Jeremy Paul.

Seven other First Stage tournaments are scheduled for next week. Then there will be five Second Stage tourneys 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:

Oct. 2-5, 2018 (final) in Nebraska City
(Top 21 finishers and ties after 72 holes advance to Second Stage)
Failed to Advance
34. Chris Korte, Littleton 71-75-73-74–293
34. Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch 70-78-72-73–293
63. Former CU golfer Kevin Kring 74-81-73-76–304

The good news is, the tournament didn’t conclude on Thursday, and Korte and Tolan are well within striking distance of advancing to the Second Stage.

The top 21 finishers and ties after four rounds will move on, and after Thursday’s third round, Korte is in 30th place and Tolan in 33rd. Korte, a former University of Denver player who lives in Littleton, is two strokes out of 21st place, while Tolan, a former University of Colorado golfer who resides in Highlands Ranch, is three out of 21st.

Korte double bogeyed the 18th hole on Thursday to shoot a 2-over-par 73, leaving him at 6-over 219 overall. Tolan carded a third-round 72, putting him at 220.

Last week, four players with strong Colorado connections advanced from a First Stage Q-school tournament to Second Stage — Zahkai Brown of Golden, fellow former Colorado State University golfer Blake Cannon, and former CU players Yannik and Jeremy Paul.

Seven other First Stage tournaments are scheduled for next week. Then there will be five Second Stage tourneys 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:

Oct. 2-5, 2018 in Nebraska City
(Top 21 finishers and ties after 72 holes advance to Second Stage)
30. Chris Korte, Littleton 71-75-73–219
33. Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch 70-78-72–220
63. Former CU golfer Kevin Kring 74-81-73–228