How They're Doing: Minnesotans on Pro Tour Money Lists -- April 22
April 22, 2024
SEMMES, Ala. -- James Nicholas was probably the best athlete in the field at the Magnolia Grove's Crossing course during the PGA Tour/Korn Ferry Q-School's First Stage qualifying tournament that was played there this week, and he also turned out to be the best golfer. Three strokes out of first place goinig into Friday's final round, he made nine birdies -- including six in the last 10 holes -- on the way to a 9-under-par 63, and the resulting 72-hole total of 265 (23 under) was good enough to win medalist honors for the 26-year-old former Yale University star from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Julian Perico, a former All-American at Arkansas, closed with a 67 and finished second, two shots behind at 267. He led Nicholas by two with six holes to go, but played them in 1 over, the result of a bogey at the 450-yard, par-4 18th, and Nicholas played them in 3 under, with birdies at the par-5 13th (559 yards), par-5 16th (596) and the 18th. Ford Clegg, the 54-hole leader, shot 69 and. tied for third at 268, along with Kyle Mueller.
Nicholas was all-state in hockey three times while in high school, and he played football as a freshman at Yale, before deciding to concentrate on golf. It was a good decision. He won twice as a senior and was the Ivy League Player of the Year that season (2018-19). He opened with a 67 at Crossing and followed it with a 70, then got into contention with a 65 on Thursday. On Friday, he birdied the fourth, fifth and sixth holes, and a birdie at the par-4 ninth gave him a front-nine 32. He made five more birdies on the back nine and kept his card bogey free for an incoming 31.
The qualifier at Magnolia Grove was one of four that took place this week. There were 13 First Stage qualifiers in all, and the top 20 plus ties from most of them advanced to the Second Stage, which will be played at five sites in November. The Final Stage, from which the top five finishers will emerge with PGA Tour Cards, will be played in December in Ponte Vedra, Fla. Crossing was one of the exceptions to the top-20-and-ties format. Only 19 moved on from there, and it took a score of 14-under 274 to make the cut.
Andrew McCain, the former two-time Minnesota State Open champion (2015 and '18), was an example of how tough it can be to get through the First Stage. He shot 65 in the third round and was tied for 16th at that point. On Friday he shot 71, which gave him a 72-hole tab of 278. That was 10 under on a 7,250-yard course -- and he missed by four strokes.
PGA Tour/Korn Ferry Q-School
FIRST STAGE (13 sites, beginning Oct. 10 and ending Oct. 27)
The top 19 or 20 finishers, plus ties, will advance from each of the 13 First Stage sites to the Second Stage, which will be played at five sites, beginning Nov. 14. The Final Stage will be played in December in Ponte Vedra, Fla., at the TPC Sawgrass Valley Course and Sawgrass CC. From there, the top five finishers will get PGA Tour status for 2024.
Semmes, Ala.
Oct. 24-27
At Magnolia Grove -- Crossing
Par 72, 7,250 yards
Final results (the top 19 finishers advance)
1. James Nicholas, P. Beach Gdns., Fla. 67-70-65-63--265
2. Julian Perico, Peru 65-69-66-67--267
T3. Ford Clegg, Birmingham, Ala. 68-66-65-69--268
T3. Kyle Mueller, Athens, Ga. 68-68-65-67--268
What it took -- 274 (6-way tie for 14th)
T25. Andrew McCain, Jupiter, Fla. 68-74-65--71--278
T55. Aaron Wilson, Chaska 71-72-74-69--286
Madison, Mississippi
Oct. 17-20
At Lake Caroline GC
Par 70, 6,835 yards
Final results
1. Zander Winston, Scottsdale, Ariz. 67-63-67-60--257 (-23)
2. Thomas Giroux, Canada 66-64-63-67--260
T3. Peyton Shore, Saluda, S.C. 66-62-68-66--262
T3. Nic Cassidy, Athlens, Ga. 67-64-66-65--262
5. Ryan Hall, Knoxville, Tenn. 67-66-65-66--264
T15. Van Holmgren, Wayzata 66-71-66-65--268
What it toook -- 269 (3-way tie for 18th)
T27. Andrew Israelson, Staples 68-68-69-67--272
Rockwall, Texas
Oct. 17-20
At Rockwall G&CC
Par 72, 7,414 yards
Final results
1. Luke Long, Fayetteville, Ark. 69-69-66-63--267 (-21)
2. Matthis Besard, Belgium 68-70-67-69--274
3. James Swash, Ruston, La. 68-73-70-64--275
4. Chad Sewell, Conroe, Texas 72-68-69-67--276
5. D. Armstrong, Jacksonville, Fla. 70-68-69-71--278
What it took --284 (6-way tie for 19th)
T46. Derek Chang, Dallas 73-73-73-71--290
T59. Trey Fessler, Hanover 73-75-72-72--292
Florida 2
Lake Worth, Fla.
Oct. 17-20
The Falls Club
Par 71, 6,735
Final results
1. Jimmy Hervol, Lake Worth, Fla. 66-67-64-64--261 (-23)
2. Shunyat Hak, Lake Mary, Fla. 68-65-66-66--265
3. Dan McCarthy, Palm Beach Gdns. 69-69--65-63--266
4. Logan Sowell, Bluffton, S.C. 68-68-66-65--267
What it took -- 273 (7-way tie for 16th)
T66. Evan Long, New Castle, Pa. 75-69-74-73--291
Albequerque, New Mexico
Ocdt. 17-20
At University of New Mexico Championship Course
Par 71, 7,555 yards
Final results
1. Matthew Walker, Ottumwa, Iowa 67-68-67-68--270 (-140
T2. Andrew Gibson, Angus, UK 71-69-66-67--273
T2. Spencer Tibbits (a), Vancouver, Wash. 70-69-67-67--273
T2. Brandon Tsujimoto, Pamona, Calif. 67-72-66-68--273
5. David Timmins, Sandy, Utah 72-65-69-68--274
What it took -- 281 (6-way tie for 20th)
T26. Austin Vukovits, Noblesville, Ind. 70-67-71-74--282
Lincoln, Nebraska
Oct. 10-13
At Wilderness Ridge CC
Par 71, 7,107 yards
Final results
1. Alex Scott, Traverse City, Mich. 69-62-70-69--270 (-14)
2. Tripp Kinney, Des Moines 64-66-68-76--274
3. Emilio Gonzalez, Charlotte, N.C. 67-68-68-74--277
T4. Ben Sigel, Minnetonka 68-69-74-67--278
T4. Jason Thresher, West Suffield, Conn. 70-70-69-69--278
T4. Cooper Musselman, Louisville 66-68-73-71--278
T7. Jack Ebner, Edina 67-64-73-75--279
T10. Brady Madsen, Raymond 68-68-69-75--280
What it took -- 281 (5-way tie for 16th)
T64. Jack Hiemenz, Blaine 71-72-74-76--293
T66. Ross Miller, Maple Grove 74-72-75-75--296
Maricopa, Ariz.
Oct. 10-13
At Ak-Chin Southern Dunes
Par 72, 7,546 yards
Final results
T1. Tanner Gore, Farmers Branch, Texas. 66-67-66-72--271 (-17)
T1. Jonathan De Los Reyes, Ripon, Calif. 70-69-72-70--271
3. Brendon Jelley, Scottsdale, Ariiz. 70-64-71-68--273
4. Blake Hathcoat, Fresno, Calif. 68-70-68-68--274
T5. Daniel Robertson, St.. Petersburg, Fla. 71-65-68-71--275
T9. Angus Flanagan, Surrey, UK 72-71-65-69--277
T16. Andre Metzger, Sioux Falls 68-74-67-72--281
What it took -- 281 (6-way tie for 16th)
Muskogee, Okla.
Oct. 10-13
At Muskogee GC
Par 70, 6,702 yards
Final results
1. Luis Gerando Garza, Guanajuato, Mexico 69-68-63-70--270 (-10)
T2. Wil Gibson, Jonesboro, Ark. 67-68-68-68--271
T2. Tyson Reeder, Edmond, Okla. 71-66-67-67--271
T4. Brayden Garrison, Franklin, Tenn. 69-71-62-72--273
T4. Alex Schaake, Omaha 67-68-68-70--273
T4. Blaine Hale, Richardson, Texas 64-71-67-71--273
T7. Will Grevlos, Sioux Falls 68-71-69-66--274
T12. Thomas Longbella, Chippewa Falls 70-66-69-71--276
T18. What it took -- 278 (5-way tie for 18th)
T46. Thomas Lehman, Scottsdale, Ariz. 71-71-74-70--286
Florida 1
Champions Gate, Fla.
Oct. 10-13
At Champions Gate GC
Par 72, 7,107 yards
Final results
1. Michael Sweeney, Port St. Lucie, Fla. 71-63-72-64--270 (-18)
2. Taylor Funk, Jacksonville, Fla. 69-65-69-68--271
3. Hunter Eichhorn, Chattanooga, Tenn. 69-69-67-68--273
T4. Julian Suri, Ponte Vedra, Beach, Fla. 69-66-73-67--275
T4. Juan Guerra, Orlando, Fla. 73-66-69-67--275
T4. Tom Adrounie, Montverde, Fla. 72-63-69-71--275
What it took -- 279 (6-way tie for 19th)
T72. Taylor Sundbom, Duluth 73-76-74--223
PRE-QUALIFYING STAGE
Chardon, Ohio
Sept. 20-22
At Mayfield Sand Ridge Club
Par 72, 7,275 yards
39 qualifying spots
Final results
1. Andrew O'Leary, Norfolk, Mass. 68-67-74--209 (-7)
T2. Tyler Jones (a), Westerville, Ohio 69-68-73---210
T2. Reid Martin, Columbus, Ohio 72-70-68--210
T8. Jack Ebner, Edina 72-73-69--214
What it took -- 220 (5-way tie for 35th)
Newton, Kansas
Sept. 13-15
At Sand Creek Station GC
Par 72, 7,339 yards
24 qualifying spots
Final results
1. Andres Acevedo,m San Antonio 68-67-67--202 (-14)
2. Wil Gibson, Jonewboro, Ark. 68-68-67--203
3. Michael Bakker, Sanford, Fla. 71-71-65--207
T5. Brady Madsen, Raymond 76-68-79--212
What it took -- 219 (3-way tie for 22nd)
T42. Dawson Wills, Chaska 80-77-80--237
Woodstock, Ill.
Sept. 13-15
Bull Valley GC
Par 72, 7,190 yards
23 qualifying spots
Final results
1. Matthis Besard, Belgium 68-68-73--209 (-7)
2. Andrew Walker, Holt, Mich. 74-72-67--213
3. Spencer Tibbits, Vancouver, Wash. 73-70-71--214
T10. Jack Hiemenz, Blaine 76-68-79--223
What it took -- 228 (2-way tie for 22nd)
Brunswick, Ga.
?Sept. 20-22
At Brunswick CC
Par 70, 6,802 yards
37 qualifying spots
Final results
1. Erik Edwards, Louisville, Ky. 66-67-67--200 (-10)
T2. Kyle Sterbinsky, Jupiter, Fla. 67-72-66--205
T2. Brent Hamm, Warner Robins, Ga. 67-70-68--205
T2. William Hartford, Palm Beach, Calif. 67-69-69--205
T20. Aaron Wilson, Chaska 73-71-69--213
What it took -- 216 (7-way tie for 33rd)
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