The PGA Tour dream continues for some but there's still a lot of work to do.
The dream continues for some but there's still a lot of work to do.
Intensity at PGA Tour Q School has been ratcheted up this year in the wake of the reduction in tour cards. The number to maintain a card for 2026 was cut from the 125 (a number that stood for many years) to the current 100. What's more, there were just 20 players who graduated from the Korn Ferry Tour to the PGA Tour in 2025, 10 fewer than there used to be.
For those who didn't get through on either of those accounts, there's Q School. The first wave of the first stage of the PGA Tour's 2025 Q School finished on Friday at six golf courses. Next week, Oct. 21-24, there are six more first stage events scheduled. From there, it's on to the second stage, Dec. 2-5, at five other golf courses, before final qualifying, Dec. 11-14 at TPC Sawgrass.
If you're one of the few still standing, you're not done yet. Here's a look at how things are shaping up so far.
PGA Tour Q School first stage qualifying results
Six of the 12 First Stage events concluded on Friday, Oct. 17. The complete list of entries and qualifers as well as scheduled stages are on the pgatour.com's website.
Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kansas
Charlie Crockett finished in first at 16 despite a third-round 71 and final-round 73. Luke Morgan and Jonas Baumgartner tied for second at 14 under with Maverick Antcliff, Callum McNeill, Wil Gibson and Luke Gannon tying for fourth at 13 under.
Among those not advancing: Austin Lemieux, whose dad is NHL legend Mario. Austin played college hockey at Arizona State before switching sticks to chase a different professional career. He tied for 32nd in this event after finishing 1 over. Also coming up short was Vince India, who tied for 54th at 6 over. India was one of two golfers suspended by the PGA Tour in 2023 for gambling on pro golf while he was a member of the Korn Ferry Tour.
Lake Caroline Golf Club in Madison, Mississippi
Nic Cassidy and Hayden Wood posted matching 23 unders after four rounds. Cassidy shot a second-round 58 and a third-round 62 yet was tracked down after Wood shot 65-65-64-63. Hunter Logan was solo third at 19 under, four shots back, and Lance Yates was fourth at 17 under.
Among those not advancing: Wyatt Worthington, a PGA Professional who has a few wins on the APGA and who's qualified for four PGA Championships.
Galloping Hill, Kenilworth, New Jersey
There were co-medalists here, with David Pastore and Braden Shattuck tying at 17 under. Jharid Hack and Nick Infanti tied for third at 14 under. Jack Simon was solo fifth at 13 under.
Among those not advancing: James Piot, who tied for 38th at 2 under.
UNM Championship Course, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Corey Pereira won the stage with a 15-under total. Justin Biwer was second at 13 under and Japan's Ideriha Taichiro was third at 12 under. Solo fourth was Gavin Aurilia, the son former San Francisco Giants pitcher Rich Aurilia. Also among those advancing was Jake Staiano, who tied for 13th. He was one of two Korn Ferry Tour players suspended in 2023 for gambling on pro golf. Staiano shot 71-69-69-70 this week.
Among those not advancing: Dylan Block, son of PGA Professional Michael Block. Dylan tied for 57th at 7 over.
Rockwall Golf & Athletic Club, Rockwall, Texas
Matthew Watkins ran away with this one, posting 24 under and winning by eight shots. He shot 66-70-63-65. John Sand and Jacob Harper tied for second at 16 under. Greg Odum Jr. and Joseph Pagdin tied for fourth. Turk Pettit, the 2021 NCAA champion, tied for sixth along with Brian Choe. Also advancing, Curtis Thompson, brother of LPGA star Lexi Thompson. Curtis tied for 14th.
Not advancing is former LIV golfer Jazz Janewattananond, who tied for 24th, and Bio Kim, who tied for 37th. Kim received a three-year ban (later reduced to one year) after making obscene gestures towards fans on the Asian Tour. Upon his reinstatement, he won a tournament in 2022.
Wilderness Ridge Country Club, Lincoln, Nebraska
This stage was won by Trav Smith of Australia. He shot 18 under to win by two over Connor Howe and Owen Stamper. Four guys tied for fourth at 15 under: Rayhan Thomas, Cameron Huss, Alex Scott and Charles DeLong. Also advancing: Daniel Wetterich, who has made 26 starts on PGA Tour-sanctioned tours, and Bo Hoag, who has 81 PGA Tour starts and another 109 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour.
The next six First Stage stops at Q School are Oct. 21-24 at these golf courses:
- Magnolia Grove-Crossing, Semmes, Alabama
- The Preserve at Ironhorse, West Palm Beach, Florida
- Champions Pointe Golf Club, Henryville, Indiana
- Bermuda Run Country Club, Bermuda Run, North Carolina
- Sugartree Golf Club, Lipan, Texas
- Country Club of Ocala, Ocala, Florida
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: PGA Tour Q School is halfway through the first stage at 6 golf courses
Category: General Sports
