Fischer Is Medalist -- Again -- at Korn Ferry Q-School Final Stage

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Zack Fischer began the final round of the Final Stage of Korn Ferry Q-School with a three-stroke lead. He still led by two when he made the turn, but a double bogey 6 on the 10th hole at The Landings Club's Marshwood Course wiped that out. Undaunted, Fischer parred the next five holes and then birdied two of the last three to claim medalist honors.

The 32-year-old former University of Texas-Arlington star ended up with a 2-under-par 69 on Monday, which gave him a 72-hole total of 268 (14 under) and a one-stroke victory -- not to mention $50,000. 

Jonathan Brightwell birdied the 13th, 16th and 17th holes to pull even with Fischer. But Fischer made a 12-foot putt for birdie at the 415-yard, par-4 18th hole to regain the lead. Those three late birdies capped off a 65 for Brightwell, who was one of three players tied for second at 269. Vincent Norman and Andrew Kozan both got there with 66's.

Michael Feagles posted a 67, which elevated him into a tie for fifth at 271, along with Samuel Stevens, who shot 69. 

The Final Stage was supposed to end on Sunday, but heavy rain Friday night and Saturday morning forced the postponement of the third round until Sunday, which pushed the fourth round into Monday. 

This was the second time Fischer has been the Korn Ferry Q-School medalist. The first time was 2013. He has played in 93 events on the feeder tour for the PGA Tour, made 47 cuts and  earned more than $300,000. He has also played in seven events on the PGA Tour, made only two cuts, but collected $148,601. 

As this year's medalist, he gained fully exempt status for the entire 2022 Korn Ferry schedule. Brightwell, Norman, Kozan and the other players who finished second through 10th will be exempt for the first 12 tournaments next year, and those finishing 11th through 40th (actually, 49th, because there was an 11-way tie for 39th) will be exempt for the first eight tournaments. Everyone else who made it through the first three stages of Q-School and into the Final Stage will have at least limited status. 

Among those with limited status will Justin Doeden, the former University of Minnesota No. 1 player from Lakeville South. A first-round 72 at Marshwood had him in the middle of the 149-man field last week, and he was still there after making pars on the first five holes at Magnolia on Friday. But he bogeyed the sixth, seventh and eighth holes, and thing got even worse on the back nine, where he finished triple bogey-double-bogey -- 6 over for the last three holes. The resulting 79 put him in a position that it was impossible to recover from.

He shot 76 at Marshwood in Round 3, then came back with a 65 at Magnolia on Monday, but that could only lift him into a tie for 127th place.  

KORN FERRY Q-SCHOOL

Final Stage

At The Landings Club

Marshwood Course -- Par 71, 7,000 yards

& Magnolia Course -- Par 70, 6,954 yards

Savannah, Ga. 

Final results (the medalist is fully exempt for the entire 2022 Korn Ferry schedule; 2 through 10 are exempt for the first 12 events; 11 through 40 are exempt for the first 8 events; all other finishers have limited status 

1. Zack Fischer, Benton, Arkansas                   67-67-65-69--268 (-14)

T2. Jonathan Brightwell, Edmond, Okla.           64-68-72-65--269

T2. Vincent Norman, Sweden                            69-68-66-66--269

T2. Andrew Kozan, West Palm Beach, Fla.       73-67-63-66--269

T5. Samuel Stevens, Eastborough, Kansas      65-69-68-69--271

T5. Michael Feagles, Scottsdale, Ariz.               68-72-64-67--271

What it took to make the top 40 -- 281 (11-way tie for 39th) 

T127. Justin Doeden, Lakeville                        72-79-76-65--292