The former University of Denver golfer earned fully-exempt status for the first half of the 2019 season on PGA Tour Latinoamerica on Friday by finishing eighth out of 81 players in one of the final PTLA Q-school tournaments.

Korte (left) shot rounds of 69-67-70-76 for a 2-under-par 282 total in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The winner — American Patrick Flavin (273) — will be fully exempt for the entire season, while those who finished second through 11th will have spots at least for the first half of the year. The season begins March 27 in Panama.

Despite the 76 in the final round, Korte carded an eagle on the par-4 16th hole. For the tournament, he posted two eagles, 17 birdies, 13 bogeys and three double bogeys.

Last week, three other players with strong Colorado ties earned some status on PGA Tour Latinoamerica. Former Fort Collins resident Tom Whitney will be exempt for the first half of the season, while former Colorado State University golfer Blake Cannon and Castle Pines resident Josh Seiple will have conditional status.

Fan Places Third on The Cactus Tour: Former University of Colorado golfer Brittany Fan finished third on Wednesday at The Cactus Tour event in Sun City, Ariz.

Fan, who won a Cactus Tour tournament last summer as a rookie pro, recorded rounds of 69-70-71 for a 6-under-par 210 total. She ended up three strokes behind winner Linnea Johansson of Sweden.

Aspen’s Morris Prevails: AJ Morris of Aspen won a one-day event on the West Florida Golf Tour at Tampa Palms Country Club on Wednesday. Morris shot a 4-under-par 72 and beat Tim Rosenhouse of Dix Hills, N.Y., and Scot Paul Ferrier in a playoff to earn $1,000.

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
 

In fact, despite shooting a 4-over-par 75 in round 2, Korte actually moved three spots up the scoreboard. And Tolan is still well within striking distance of advancing in the Q-school process despite a 78 on Wednesday.

The top 21 finishers and ties after four rounds will advance to the Second Stage of Q-school. At the halfway point, Korte is in 30th place and Tolan in 40th.

Korte, a Littleton resident and former University of Denver golfer, sits at 4-over-par 146, two strokes from the player currently in 21st place. And Tolan, a University of Colorado golfer who lives in Highlands Ranch, checked in at 148, four out of the 21st spot.

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 71-75–146
40. Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch 70-78–148
69. Former CU golfer Kevin Kring 74-81–155
 

Two-time CoBank Colorado Open champion Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch opened with a 1-under-par 70 that left him in 24th place in the 72-hole event. And Chris Korte of Littleton posted a 71 that put him in 33rd place in the 74-man field.

The top 21 finishers and ties after four rounds will advance to the Second Stage of Q-school.

Tolan, a former University of Colorado golfer, made three birdies and two bogeys on Tuesday, while Korte, a former University of Denver player, carded four birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.

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)
24. Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch 70
33. Chris Korte, Littleton 71

Korte, Glenn Workman of Pueblo West, former University of Colorado golfer Kevin Kring and fellow former Buff Tom Gempel of Lone Tree made the grade in a Pre-Qualifying tournament by placing in the top 39 and ties. (Pictured are, from left, Korte and Workman.)

Korte, a former University of Denver golfer who has won both the CGA Amateur and CGA Match Play, carded rounds of 68-69-67 for a 9-under-par 204 total. Only medalist Stephen Stallings of Louisville, Ky., finished higher, at 202. Korte made bogeys on his first two holes on Friday, but went 6 under par the rest of the way.

Workman, winner of the 2017 CGA Amateur, advanced despite a final-round 76, which left him at 216 overall, in a tie for 21st place.

Kring closed with a 71 to post a 217 total, leaving him in 24th place. And Gempel had a final-round 75, finishing at 219, in 31st place.

After all five Pre-Qualifying tournaments are complete, there will be 12 First Stage events set for various dates from Sept. 25 to Oct. 9, then five Second Stage tourneys from Oct. 30-Nov. 9. The Final Stage is Dec. 6-9 in Chandler, Ariz.

Web.com Tour Pre-Qualifying
At Lincoln, Neb. Aug. 29-31 (Top 39 Finishers Advance to First Stage)
ADVANCE
2. Chris Korte, Littleton 68-69-67–204
21. Glenn Workman, Pueblo West 72-68-76–216
24. Former CU golfer Kevin Kring 70-76-71–217
31. Tom Gempel, Lone Tree 72-72-75–219
FAILED TO ADVANCE
55. Jacob Fair, Lone Tree 71-79-78–228

For all the scores from Lincoln, CLICK HERE.

With the top 39 finishers after Friday’s third round advancing to the “First Stage” of Q-school, former University of Denver golfer Chris Korte (left) of Littleton stands in fourth place, while Glenn Workman of Pueblo West is 11th. Korte won the 2015 CGA Amateur and the 2017 CGA Match Play, while Workman won last year’s CGA Am title.

Korte, in his pro debut, backed up his first-round 68 with a 2-under-par 69 on Thursday, giving him a 5-under 137 total. He trails leader Stephen Stallings of Louisville, Ky., by five. Korte made four birdies and two bogeys on Thursday.

Workman fired a 68 in round 2, making four birdies and a bogey, and checked in at 140.

Other locals in the top 39 through two days are Tom Gempel of Lone Tree (21st place at 144) and fellow former University of Colorado golfer Kevin Kring (33rd at 146).

After five Pre-Qualifying tournaments are held, there will be 12 First Stage events set for various dates from Sept. 25 to Oct. 9, then five Second Stage tourneys from Oct. 30-Nov. 9. The Final Stage is Dec. 6-9 in Chandler, Ariz.

Web.com Tour Pre-Qualifying
At Lincoln, Neb. Aug. 29-31 (Top 39 Finishers After 54 Holes Advance to First Stage)
4. Chris Korte, Littleton 68-69–137
11. Glenn Workman, Pueblo West 72-68–140
21. Tom Gempel, Lone Tree 72-72–144
33. Former CU golfer Kevin Kring 70-76–146
50. Jacob Fair, Lone Tree 71-79–150

For all the scores from Lincoln, CLICK HERE.

Korte (left), who’s making his pro debut, made four birdies and a bogey in round 1.

The top 39 players — out of an original field of 73 — after 54 holes will advance to the “First Stage” of Q-school.

All five players with strong Colorado ties competing in Lincoln shot 72 or below on Wednesday, with former University of Colorado golfer Kevin Kring posting a 70, Jacob Fair of Lone Tree a 71, and Tom Gempel of Lone Tree and Glenn Workman of Pueblo West 72s.

Stephen Stalling of Louisville, Ky., holds the first-round lead after a 66.

After five Pre-Qualifying tournaments are held, there will be 12 First Stage events set for various dates from Sept. 25 to Oct. 9, then five Second Stage tourneys from Oct. 30-Nov. 9. The Final Stage is Dec. 6-9 in Chandler, Ariz.

Web.com Tour Pre-Qualifying
At Lincoln, Neb. Aug. 29-31 (Top 39 Finishers After 54 Holes Advance)
5. Chris Korte, Littleton 68
11. Former CU golfer Kevin Kring 70
14. Jacob Fair, Lone Tree 71
21. Tom Gempel, Lone Tree 72
21. Glenn Workman, Pueblo West 72

For all the scores from Lincoln, CLICK HERE.

But Dunkle, who has long called Parker and The Club at Pradera home, certainly went out on a high note.

In the same week the family home was sold, the 21-year-old claimed the CGA Amateur title on Sunday at Pinehurst Country Club in south Denver. And within the last five weeks, despite battling back problems, he’s also qualified in Fort Collins for the U.S. Amateur and finished ninth and earned low-amateur honors in the CoBank Colorado Open in Denver.

That’s what you call a run of good play.

“This feels great,” Dunkle said of winning the CGA Amateur. “It means a lot. It’s one of the bigger tournaments in Colorado that I had yet to make a run in. It’s fun. To have my name on the trophy with a lot of other really good players (including Hale Irwin, Steve Jones, Brandt Jobe, Bob Byman and Wyndham Clark), that will be a cool thing.

“Growing up in Colorado, this is the tournament that a lot of people want to win. This is where all the best players in the state play. So this definitely ranks up there near the top (of my golf accomplishments). I got to play with a bunch of really good players this week and it was really fun.”

Dunkle, who will soon be going into his final year on the University of Utah golf team, played nearly mistake-free golf on Sunday at the CGA Amateur, making just one bogey in shooting a 3-under-par 67. His 14-under 266 total for the week was good for a two-stroke victory.

“Really there wasn’t anything special about the (final) round,” Dunkle said. “It was just kind of keep plugging along and a couple of putts fell here and there. I wasn’t trying to force anything. I just stuck to my game plan. My dad(/caddie) and I talked about it every tee shot and hit driver as much as we could. We just went and found it and hit it from there.

“I had the same strategy the whole week. I was hitting driver as much as I could, trying to get as close to the green as I could (on par-4s and 5s). The thing that feels best (in my game) right now is my driver. The driver has always been a weapon because I hit the ball pretty far. Lately, I’ve been hitting it pretty straight and haven’t been getting into too much trouble. On a course like this that helped a lot because I was able to get pretty close to a lot of greens.”

It’s the third CGA championship for Dunkle, who has also won a CGA Western Chapter title and a CGA Parent/Child with dad Jason, who caddied for Kyler all this week at Pinehurst. Dunkle was also the CGA’s Les Fowler Player of the Year in 2016. (Kyler is pictured at top, and with Jason while walking off the 18th green on Sunday.)

University of Northern Colorado golfer Coby Welch, from The Links Golf Course, led by two after three rounds, and pulled even on Sunday with Dunkle with a 6-foot birdie putt on No. 15, where he very nearly holed out his approach shot.

But the par-5 16th proved pivotal. Welch’s tee shot ended up just in the right fairway bunker, but he had to stand outside of the sand, making for a somewhat-awkward approach from about 210 yards. He pulled the shot left of the green, then left his pitch short of the putting surface. His subsequent chip ran 15 feet by the hole, and when he missed that putt, he carded a bogey.

The long-hitting Dunkle, meanwhile, hit his second shot on the green, 40 feet past the flag, and two putted for birdie, accounting for a two-shot swing.

“I just got a little unlucky break (on 16),” said Welch (left). “The ball was 6 inches in the bunker right in front of the lip. I hit a decent shot out of there, then I got around the green and my short game got to me again. That’s been the case lately.

“I knew I could get that up and down (for birdie on 16). I’ve gotten (shots like that) up and down a thousand times. I didn’t have a great lie, but I hit two really bad chips. This tournament, I scored well, but my short game wasn’t very good.”

On 17, Dunkle’s tee shot finished well left of the green on the par-3, but he nestled his pitch down a slope to within two feet for par. He called that “one of the bigger moments for me.” And he made a routine par on 18 for the victory.

Welch, a former CGA Boys Junior Player of the Year, had made just one bogey combined on Friday and Saturday. But he had four on Sunday to go with three birdies, one of which was an improbable, big-breaking 60-footer on No. 10. He ended up shooting a 1-over-par 71 and finishing runner-up at 268.

“I didn’t play well. I didn’t clutch up when I needed to,” said Welch, who like Dunkle will play in the U.S. Amateur this month. “It’s unfortunate, but I just didn’t have my best today. I felt fine. To be honest I wasn’t even nervous. But I didn’t perform.

“You always want to finish first, but I’m glad Kyler won. He’s a good kid. If it wasn’t me, I’m glad it was him.”

Griffin Barela (left) of Bear Creek Golf Club made a run to get in contention, one stroke out of the lead with three holes left. But the University of Wisconsin golfer bogeyed the last three to shoot 69 and share third place at 271.

“Going into the day my goal was to try to get to 14 (under) to try to have a chance,” said Barela, who won a college tournament in April and finished 15th last Sunday at the CoBank Colorado Open. “I knew I was one back (after 15). Obviously I didn’t want to finish that way, but I’m happy with how I played this week. I wanted to give myself a chance to win, and I did that. Unfortunately it didn’t work out, but it happens.”

At that 271 figure with Barela were Tyler Zhang of Lone Tree Golf Club (bogey-free final-round 66) and former Colorado State University golfer Dominic Kieffer (67 despite bogeying the last two).

Former University of Denver golfer Chris Korte of Littleton, competing in his final amateur event, encountered considerable tree trouble on Sunday, leading to a triple bogey and two doubles in his final 10 holes. Despite five birdies, he shot 74 and shared sixth place at 273 with Michael Tait of Raccoon Creek Golf Course (final-round 70).

Sunday’s win adds to Dunkle’s list of notable victories in Colorado, which also includes earning the title at the 2017 Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational college tournament and the 2012 5A state high school meet. Dunkle started his college career at CSU before transferring to Utah.
He’ll live in Salt Lake City for the time being, but plans to continue to play tournaments in Colorado in the future, ideally if plans pan out to turn pro late next spring.

But for now, he’s concentrating on making a run at the U.S. Am, which begins on Aug. 13. And why not, considering the way he’s been performing on the golf course lately?

“I’m definitely in a groove. I’ve been playing really good since the beginning of June,” Dunkle said.
For scores from the CGA Amateur, CLICK HERE.

Coby Welch came ever so close to winning the Colorado Junior Amateur several years ago, but couldn’t quite close the deal.

The 20-year-old from Highlands Ranch (left) hopes to get over the hump in the CGA Amateur, the open-age version of the same tournament.

Meanwhile, former University of Denver golfer Chris Korte will attempt to go out on a high note in his amateur finale by winning the CGA Amateur for the second time.

And 2016 CGA Player of the Year Kyler Dunkle will try to make his outstanding summer of golf that much better by capturing the CGA Am title.

Those are the main three players in the spotlight after Saturday’s third round at Pinehurst Country Club in south Denver, though given the number of rounds of 65 or lower this week, there are others potentially within reach going into Sunday’s final 18.

Welch, the 2015 CGA Boys Junior Player of the Year from The Links Golf Course, grabbed the lead at Pinehurst on Saturday with his second straight round of 5-under-par 65, which leaves him at 13-under 197 overall.

“I’m just going to tee it up (Sunday) and play it like every other round I have,” said the University of Northern Colorado golfer. “We’ll see what happens at the end. If I play well, hopefully I’ll win. But it is golf.

“It would be very cool to be able to win this. I was close many times in the Junior Stroke and never capped it off. That would be cool to be able to do it now.”

Korte (left), who won this event in 2015 and the CGA Match Play in 2017, trails by two after a round of 68. He shot a 4-under 31 on the front nine, but went 2 over on the back despite making a 12-foot par save after being in the trees on No. 18 Saturday.

“I started out really hot and the game felt awesome,” the 21-year-old said. “The swing got a little loose on the back nine. I got out of trouble really well from behind some trees here and there, like 18 after punching out. But it was a pretty disappointing back nine. It was a grind for sure. The front nine felt super easy. Hopefully I’ll get more of that tomorrow.”

Also at 199 was 36-hole leader Dunkle, from The Club at Pradera, who three-putted twice in the final six holes to shoot 70. The University of Utah golfer went eagle-birdie-bogey on his final three holes. His 12-foot eagle on 16 came after a drive of more than 410 yards.

“I feel horrible,” said Dunkle, who made 19 birdies the first two days combined but just three on Saturday to go with the eagle. “I missed a lot of shots in really bad places. Out here, especially with some pins they had today, you had to be on the correct side the green if you weren’t going to be close. I put myself in some really tight spots and had hard chances at up and down, and my short game wasn’t where I wanted it to be.”

Both Dunkle (left) and Welch have qualified for this month’s U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach, while Dunkle was low-amateur at the CoBank Colorado Open last weekend. Korte, meanwhile, will be turning pro before the Web.com Tour Q-school starts late this month.

In other words it should make for an interesting final day at Pinehurst.

Korte is trying to become the first repeat winner of the CGA Amateur since Kane Webber (2002 and ’03).

“This is my final amateur event. I’m turning pro at the end of the month for Web.com Q-school,” Korte said. “It would be amazing to go out with a bang like that.”

To this point, only three players in the field have shot in the 60s every round this week — Korte (65-66-68), former Colorado State University golfer Dominic Kieffer (67-69-68) and Welch (67-65-65).

“I hit it really well today,” said Welch, whose only bogey in the last two rounds combined was due to a three-putt from 15 feet off the fringe on No. 12 Saturday. “I scored well. I didn’t really feel like I putted great. But I scored very well for the way I putted today. I hit the ball very well, so it kind of help even it out.”

Two other players maintained some hope at the title with 6-under-par 64s at Pinehurst on Saturday. Griffin Barela (left) of Bear Creek Golf Club stands at 202, while Michael Tait of Raccoon Creek Golf Course went bogey-free and checked in at 203.

So what should we expect from Sunday’s final round?

“This course can yield a lot of really low scores,” Dunkle said. “If the three of us (in the final group — Welch, Korte and Dunkle) don’t play the way we want to and someone else throws up a number … You can be within seven shots here and have a chance. I think it’s really anyone’s game. But it will be nice to play with the same guys I did today and knowing that we’re all close. I think it’s going to be really fun, really back and forth because all three of us have been playing pretty good this week. There’s lots of birdies being made.”

Added Korte: “Coby and Kyler are great players. Kyler bombs it and he hit it next to the greens on a lot of these par-4s and reaches all the par-5s, so he’s going to make a lot of birdies regardless. And Coby is a great player, so I’ve just got to go out not make mistakes and make a few putts and I think I’ll do just fine.” 

For scores from the CGA Amateur, CLICK HERE.

For Sunday’s tee times, CLICK HERE.