And now it looks like the former Fort Collins resident and Air Force Academy golfer will be a regular on that circuit again in 2019.

Whitney finished fourth out of 99 players on Friday in a PGA Tour Latinoamerica Q-school tournament in Mazatlan, Mexico, which gives him fully-exempt status for the first half of the 2019 season.

Meanwhile, two other players with strong Colorado ties earned conditional PTLA status for 2019 — former Colorado State University golfer Blake Cannon and Castle Pines resident Josh Seiple, who’s in the midst of his senior season at the University of Mississippi.

Whitney, who shared the lead after three rounds, tallied scores of 67-70-65-67 for a 19-under-par 269 total that left him five strokes behind medalist Jacob Bergeron of the U.S., who closed with a 62 and is fully exempt for the entire season.

Whitney eagled a par-4 during Friday’s round, but also made a 7 on a par-5.

Players who finished 2-11 are fully exempt for the first half of the season.

Those who placed 12th through 35th and ties are conditionally exempt in 2019. That’s the category in which Cannon and Seiple fell. Cannon (66-69-71-69) tied for 15th at 275, while Seiple (69-70-69-72) shared 32nd place at 280.

Two more PGA Tour Latinoamerica Q-school events remain, both next week: in Brazil and Argentina.

Coloradan Chen Earns Conditional Status on PGA Tour China: Westminster resident and University of Northern Colorado golfer Li Chen landed conditional status on PGA Tour China on Friday by tying for 21st place out of 100 players in a Q-school tournament in Guangzhou.

The finishers in the 13-35 range earned conditional status through the first six events of 2019.

Chen posted rounds of 73-76-75-78 for a 22-over-par 302 total.

Chen is in the midst of his senior season at UNC. In 2017, he was medalist in qualifying for the U.S. Amateur at Fort Collins Country Club.

This week marked the first of four qualifying tournaments in 2019 for PGA Tour China.

Former Buff Jeremy Paul Wins in Scottsdale: Meanwhile, in mini-tour action, former University of Colorado golfer Jeremy Paul won a one-round tournament, the Waste Management Warm-Up in Scottsdale, Ariz., an Outlaw Tour event.

Paul shot a 5-under-par 67 for a one-stroke victory and earned $1,500 on Monday.

Steven Kupcho Runner-Up in Napa: Elsewhere on mini tours, former CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year Steven Kupcho recently posted his second top-10 finish in a month.

Kupcho tied for second in the Napa Open at Silverado Resort and Spa in California last week. The former University of Northern Colorado golfer posted a 7-under-par 209 total, finishing seven back of champion Corey Pereira and earning $3,500.

In December, Kupcho shared ninth place in a Mexico Professional Golf Tour event in Mazatlan.
 

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
 

Former University of Colorado golfer Yannik Paul (left) shared medalist honors on Friday, while twin brother — and fellow ex-Buff — Jeremy Paul tied for fifth. Meanwhile, two former Colorado State University golfers also advanced to Second Stage — Blake Cannon (fifth place) and Golden’s Zahkai Brown (12th).

Brown, the 2013 CoBank Colorado Open champion, rocketed up the scoreboard with a 7-under-par 65 in the final round, which left him at 11-under 277, five behind Yannik Paul and fellow co-medalists Norman Xiong of Las Vegas and Canadian Jamie Sadlowski. Brown made eight birdies in the final round to jump up 22 spots.

The top 21 finishers and ties — all those at 279 or better — moved on to the Second Stage of Q-school.

Yannik Paul closed with a 73 on Friday after going 66-66-67 in the previous rounds. Jeremy Paul and Cannon checked in at 274 after both carding final-round 71s.

Numerous other First Stage tournaments are scheduled for the next two weeks. 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:

Maricopa, Ariz.
(Top 21 and Ties Advance to Second Stage)
Advance to Second Stage
T1. Former CU golfer Yannik Paul, Boulder 66-66-67-73–272
5. Former CSU golfer Blake Cannon 64-70-69-71–274
5. Former CU golfer Jeremy Paul 68-67-68-71–274
12. Zahkai Brown, Golden 72-69-71-65–277
Failed to Advance
36. Nick Mason, Parker 74-69-74-68–285
49. Glenn Workman, Pueblo West 73-73-72-70–288
 

Former University of Colorado golfer Yannik Paul took a three-shot lead on Thursday in Maricopa, Ariz., while twin brother Jeremy Paul and former Colorado State University player Blake Cannon share third place in the 74-man event.

The top 21 finishers and ties after Friday’s final round will advance to Stage 2 of Q-school.

Yannik Paul shot a bogey-free 5-under-par 67 on Thursday, giving him a 17-under 199 total for three days. In three rounds, Yannik Paul has made just two bogeys.

Jeremy Paul and Cannon sit at 203, with Paul carding a 68 and Cannon a 69 on Thursday. Paul Cannon racked up six birdies each in round 3.

The players tied for the crucial 21st spot with one round remaining sit at 209.

Numerous other First Stage tournaments are scheduled for the next two-plus weeks. 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:

Maricopa, Ariz.
(After 72 Holes, Top 21 and Ties Will Advance to Second Stage)
1. Former CU golfer Yannik Paul, Boulder 66-66-67–199
3. Former CSU golfer Blake Cannon 64-70-69–203
3. Former CU golfer Jeremy Paul 68-67-68–203
34. Zahkai Brown, Golden 72-69-71–212
48. Nick Mason, Parker 74-69-74–217
54. Glenn Workman, Pueblo West 73-73-72–218
 

German-born Yannik Paul (left) shot his second straight 6-under-par 66 and shares the lead with Byron Meth of Tempe, Ariz., after Wednesday’s round. Paul made eight birdies in round 2 — including five straight starting on No. 13.

Meanwhile, Paul’s twin brother Jeremy, another former Buff, sits in fifth place at 135, three back of Yannik. Jeremy Paul shot a bogey-free 67 on Wednesday.

And first-round leader Blake Cannon, a former CSU player, sits in fourth place at 134 after a second-round 70. Cannon carded five birdies and three bogeys in the second sound.

The top 21 finishers and ties after Friday’s final round will advance to Stage 2 of Q-school.

Numerous other First Stage tournaments are scheduled for the next two-plus weeks. 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:

Maricopa, Ariz.
(After 72 Holes, Top 21 and Ties Will Advance to Second Stage)
T1. Former CU golfer Yannik Paul, Boulder 66-66–132
4. Former CSU golfer Blake Cannon 64-70–134
5. Former CU golfer Jeremy Paul 68-67–135
31. Zahkai Brown, Golden 72-69–141
47. Nick Mason, Parker 74-69–143
56. Glenn Workman, Pueblo West 73-73–146
 

Former Colorado State University golfer Blake Cannon (pictured) shot an 8-under-par 64 and leads by one after day 1. He made eight birdies in a bogey-free round.

German-born twins who used to play at the University of Colorado aren’t far off the pace. Yannik Paul opened with a 66 and brother Jeremy with a 68. Yannik made an eagle and went bogey-free, and Jeremy carded seven birdies on Tuesday.

The top 21 finishers after Friday’s final round will advance to Stage 2 of Q-school.

Numerous other First Stage tournaments are scheduled for the first two weeks in October. Then there will be five Second Stage tourneys from Oct. 30-Nov. 9. The Final Stage is Dec. 6-9 in Chandler, Ariz.

Here are this week’s First-Stage scores for all the players with strong Colorado ties:

Maricopa, Ariz.
(After 72 Holes, Top 21 Will Advance to Second Stage)
1. Former CSU golfer Blake Cannon 64
3. Former CU golfer Yannik Paul, Boulder 66
11. Former CU golfer Jeremy Paul 68
34. Zahkai Brown, Golden 72
50. Glenn Workman, Pueblo West 73
60. Nick Mason, Parker 74  

The showing will make Schoolcraft exempt through at least the first four tournaments of the 2018 season.

Schoolcraft (pictured) was a regular on PGA Tour Canada in 2016 and posted three top-10 finishes, including a runner-up, and ended up ninth on the money list. Last year, he competed in one PGA Tour event and three on the Web.com Tour.

The medalist on Friday — Sam Fidone — will be exempt through the entire 2018 PGA Tour Canada season, while the second through fifth finishers will be exempt for at least the first eight events.

Schoolcraft carded rounds of 69-73-72-70 for a 4-under-par 284 total. That left him eight strokes behind Fidone. The Coloradan made five birdies, a bogey and a double bogey on Friday.

Meanwhile, Schoolcraft’s brother, Beau, and former Colorado State University golfer Blake Cannon earned conditional status for 2018 by finishing in the 17-40 range. In their case, they tied for 27th place at 2-over-par 290.

This week marked the first of five PGA Tour Canada Q-school tournaments that will be held leading up to the 2018 season.

Here are the scores for all the players with strong Colorado ties who competed this week in Santee:

7. Coloradan Michael Schoolcraft 69-73-72-70–284
27. Coloradan Beau Schoolcraft 74-72-72-72–290
27. Former CSU golfer Blake Cannon 70-75-72-73–290
FAILED TO QUALIFY
84. Coloradan Jimmy Makloski 78-72-75-76–301
91. Former CU golfer Kevin Kring 72-76-79-79–306

Edens Runner-Up Twice on Dreamchasers Tour: Parker Edens of Greeley recorded his second top-five finish this month on the Dreamchasers Tour with a runner-up showing on Friday in the Moon Valley Championship in Phoenix.
   
The former Colorado State University golfer posted scores of 65-68-70 for a 13-under-par 203 total at Moon Valley Country Club. That left him three strokes behind champion Joel Dahmen of Scottsdale, with whom Edens was tied for the lead going into the final round of the 52-man tournament.

Edens, a two-time CGA Match Play runner-up, placed fifth in the Dreamchasers East Valley Championship on March 1.

(March 22 Update: Edens also finished second at a Dreamchasers tournament that ended on March 22. At the Southeast Valley Championship in Chandler, Ariz., the Coloradan was runner-up out of 17 players, earning $1,900. He went 67-71-67 for an 8-under-par 205 total, which put him two strokes behind winner Zach Wright of Queen Creek, Ariz.) 

Three of coach Jason Preeo’s former players at Valor Christian High School had advanced to U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying in the last eight days, and he didn’t want to be left out of the party.

So the 38-year-old from Highlands Ranch not only earned a Sectional berth of his own on Tuesday, but he shared medalist honors in the U.S. Open Local Qualifying tournament at Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins.

Preeo, who made the cut in the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, carded five birdies and shot a 4-under-par 67 to tie for the low score at Collindale with former Colorado State University golfer Parker Edens (pictured) of Greeley. So Preeo will be joining his former Valor players Jake Staiano, Josh Seiple and Ross Macdonald in advancing to 36-hole Sectional Qualifying, which will be held on June 5 at 10 sites in the U.S. The U.S. Open itself is set for June 15-18 at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis.

“I’ve got to keep up with those (former Valor) guys,” said Preeo, an instructor at the MetaGolf Learning Center in Englewood. “We’ve had three of them get through, so I couldn’t let them show me up today.”

Five players in all — out of a field that originally numbered 84 — from the Collindale qualifier will be headed to Sectionals. In addition to Preeo and Edens, advancing on Tuesday were 2015 5A state high school champion Hunter Paugh of Fort Collins, the University of South Dakota golfer who lives on the course at Collindale and shot 69; former University of Colorado golfer David Oraee of Greeley (71); and CSU senior Blake Cannon (72).

Edens has been a fixture among those who advance from the Collindale qualifier, having made it to Sectionals from the site four consecutive years, twice claiming medalist honors. On Tuesday, he did the trick with a bogey-free 67 that included birdies on all three of the par-5s.

“I’ve always played good here,” said the 26-year-old, who has conditional status on the Web.com Tour this year. “I’ve kind of got it figured out. I feel pretty comfortable here” after playing the course roughly 100 times. “I putted well today, but I always putt well here. I can be putting bad (in general) and come here and putt well.

“It’s been a tough winter and I came back here and this place is always good to me. My game’s been coming around, and it came around at the right time.”

A year after Edens and Oraee survived a seven-man playoff to land the final two spots from the Collindale qualifier — and later finished one and two shots, respectively, out of Sectional playoffs for berths into the 2016 U.S. Open — there was a six-man playoff on Tuesday. Two days after shooting a 62 at nearby Ptarmigan Country Club, Cannon won the playoff at Collindale. After Andrew Moore of Loveland pitched in from 23 yards for birdie on the first extra hole, Cannon sank a 5-foot birdie of his own. Then Cannon prevailed on the second playoff hole with a routine par after Moore drove it into the left trees for the second straight time, then pitched out and eventually settled for a bogey.

“In a six-man playoff, obviously the odds are low,” said Cannon (left), a resident of Mesa, Ariz., who won two individual college titles in a week for CSU earlier this season. “Going to (hole) 10, you have to make birdie. Andrew hit a great chip — it’s not how you expect someone to make a birdie, but he did — and to make that 5-footer on top to extend it was fun. Then I played 18 really solid. I had a lot of good shots under pressure.

“It feels good to have an opportunity (to qualify for the U.S. Open). You can’t make it unless you get there (to Sectionals), so it’s just one step at a time.”

Like Edens, Paugh used his expansive knowledge of Collindale to pay dividends on Tuesday. The 19-year-old sank two 40-foot putts and chipped in from 20 feet.

“It was really nice to come back to this course, which I played growing up,” said Paugh, who estimates he’s played Collindale 200 times in his life. “I know the course, I know where to hit the ball, I know what to hit off the tee, so I feel like it gave me a great advantage going into it. Being familiar with the course is a big deal.”

As for Oraee (below) — a past winner of both the CGA Amateur and the CGA Match Play — after having to survive the seven-man playoff last year at Collindale, he desperately wanted to avoid the logjam at 72 on Tuesday, and he did that with a one-birdie, one-bogey round.

“The goal is always to play in the U.S. Open, so to have that opportunity is nice,” said the 23-year-old, who made it to the round of 16 at the 2015 U.S. Amateur. “I think I’m a lot better player than last year, so hopefully I can save a couple of shots here or there (at Sectionals) and get the job done. The goal today was obviously to get through; that’s all you’re thinking about. It’s my first tournament in a while, so it’s good to get the feet wet and get ready for tournament golf.”

This will be roughly the sixth Sectional Qualifying for Preeo, who on Tuesday was playing just his fourth round of the year; the fourth Sectional for Edens, all from Collindale; the third for Oraee; and the first for Cannon and Paugh, who was attempting to qualify for the first time.

Preeo remembers well being in 16th place at the midway point of the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (75-70–145) before struggling the last two rounds, shooting 82-84 on the weekend to finish 82nd.

“It was cool, but it was very bittersweet to have played decent golf the first couple of days, then play so poorly (on the weekend),” he said. “That’s the biggest motivation — to maybe play a little differently or do some things differently.

“It’s exciting just to get another chance. Having been through the whole process, you have an opportunity and hopefully you play well.”

Three professionals — Preeo, Edens and Oraee — and amateurs Paugh and Cannon made up the five players who advanced on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s round was delayed by about two hours in the afternoon by lightning, with 17 golfers sticking around to resume play after having their round interrupted.

Last week at the first Colorado-based Local Qualifying tournament at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, Zahkai Brown of Golden, Seiple of Castle Rock, Staiano of Englewood, Pat Grady of Denver, and Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield earned spots into Sectionals. Lindstrom originally was the first alternate, but he advanced when Chris Thayer of Golden withdrew the day after qualifying for Sectionals.

Then on Monday at CommonGround Golf Course, advancing were Rich Lash of Denver, Jackson Solem of Longmont, Jacob Lestishen of Lone Tree, Macdonald of Castle Pines and Andy Connell of Denver.

ELSEWHERE (Updated May 17): Meanwhile, other players with strong Colorado ties have advanced to Sectionals from Local Qualifiers outside the state.

Among them:

— PGA Tour player Shane Bertsch of Parker tied for third place with a 70 at the Dallas Athletic Club on May 17.

— Amateur Greg Condon of Monte Vista shared medalist honors with a 70 in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M., on May 2.

— And former University of Colorado golfer Justin Bardgett was medalist in Raymore, Mo., on May 15, firing a 70.

U.S. Open Local Qualifying
ҬAt Par-71 Collindale GC in Fort Collins

ADVANCE TO SECTIONALS
Jason Preeo, Highlands Ranch 34-33–67
Parker Edens, Greeley 34-33–67
Hunter Paugh, Fort Collins 34-35–69
David Oraee, Greeley 36-35–71
Blake Cannon, Mesa, Ariz. 36-36–72

ALTERNATES (in order)
Andrew Moore, Loveland 39-33–72
Tony Aguilar, Arvada 36-36–72″¨

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

Lindstrom, a two-time Four-Ball champion, and Bradsby, the 2016 Broadmoor Invitation winner with then-partner Steve Irwin, made 11 birdies and no bogeys in round 2 to go up by two strokes heading into Sunday’s final round. Their 60 was the best score — by three strokes — in this year’s tournament. After tallying birdies on each of their last four holes on Saturday, they stand at 16-under-par 126 after 36 holes.

Lindstrom has won the CGA Mid-Amateur title three times, including each of the past two years.

Sitting in second place going into Sunday are Colorado State University teammates Jake Staiano, from Glenmoor Country Club, and Blake Cannon, who are at 128 after a second-round 65. They racked up eight birdies on Saturday, with all of them coming on the first 10 holes at CommonGround.

Two other teams in the scratch better-ball stroke-play event are also sub-130 through two days. Nick Nosewicz, the 2015 CGA Match Play champion from Meadow Hills Golf Course, and Tom Krystyn of CommonGround checked in at 129 after a bogey-free 63 in round 2. Also at that figure are Taylor Kennedy of Columbine Country Club and Alex Leonida of The Ridge at Castle Pines North, who made an eagle and five birdies in Saturday’s 64.

Sam Marley and James Richardson of South Suburban Golf Course, and Alex Buecking and Sean Crowley of Columbine Country Club, who shared the lead with Staiano and Cannon after round 1, dropped back with a 69 and a 68, respectively, on Saturday.

Lindstrom and Bradsby, and Staiano and Cannon will be paired together for Sunday’s final round.

For the scores from the CGA Four-Ball, CLICK HERE.

Also starting with 63s were 2009 champion Alex Buecking and teammate Sean Crowley from Columbine Country Club, and Colorado State University teammates Jake Staiano (from Glenmoor Country Club) and Blake Cannon.

There were also four 64s in the scratch better-ball stroke-play event that will continue through Sunday: 2016 CGA Parent/Child champions Ray and Jimmy Makloski from Pueblo Country Club; 2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball teammates Andrew Tapia of The Ridge at Castle Pines North and Jeff Chapman of Inverness Golf Club; John Hayes of CommonGround Golf Course and Dallas Massey of South Suburban; and Calum White and Scott Crawford of Murphy Creek Golf Course, who made two eagles on Friday (both by Crawford), including one at the 355-yard, par-4 eighth hole.

In all, 11 teams shot 65 or lower on Friday.

Marley, a University of Northern Colorado golfer, and Richardson, the 2015 champions, reeled off five consecutive birdies in the middle of their round and eight overall. (The two are pictured, with Marley in black.)

Buecking, a quarterfinalist in the 2016 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball with Jason Enloe, and Crowley also chalked up eight birdies in a bogey-free day.

Staiano, who will play as an individual for CSU in the NCAA Regionals later this month, and Cannon finished with nine birdies and a bogey on the par-3 12th hole.

For the scores from the CGA Four-Ball, CLICK HERE.