December 7, 2024 | 10 min.By Michael R Fermoyle The lineup for the Final Stage of the PGA Tour/Korn Ferry Q-School is finalized, following the conclusion of four Second Stage events this week, with three players connected to Minnesota progressing. Two past champions of the State Amateur had to stage comebacks in their final rounds […]
December 7, 2024 | 10 min.
By Michael R Fermoyle
The lineup for the Final Stage of the PGA Tour/Korn Ferry Q-School is finalized, following the conclusion of four Second Stage events this week, with three players connected to Minnesota progressing.
Two past champions of the State Amateur had to stage comebacks in their final rounds on Friday to qualify, and a former Gopher also secured his spot in the Final Stage despite experiencing difficulties in his last nine holes.
The Final Stage will take place next week, from Dec. 12-15, at TPC Sawgrass Country Club and Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra, Fla. Upon conclusion, the top five finishers and ties will earn status on the PGA Tour for the 2025 season. Others outside the top five will achieve varying levels of status on the Korn Ferry Tour, and all who reach Ponte Vedra will gain status on the PGA Americas Tour, recently established this year through the merger of the previous PGA Latino America and PGA Canada tours.
Caleb VanArragon faced bleak prospects for advancing as he approached his final seven holes. He was 2 under over the first 65 holes on the 7,659-yard Hammock Beach Conservatory course (par 72) in Palm Coast, Fla. This performance is commendable, yet not sufficient, as only the top 15 and ties could advance, placing him outside the top 20. The 2023 Minnesota State Open and State Amateur champion (who finished 36 under in both tournaments, winning by a total of 21 strokes) then proceeded to birdie the 243-yard, par-3 12th hole, the 491-yard, par-4 13th, and the 414-yard, par-4 16th.
(To players from previous generations, that score of 3 on the nearly 500-yard 13th hole would have been considered an eagle, not a birdie.)
VanArragon’s strong finish resulted in a final round of 69 (3 under) and a cumulative score of 283 (-5), just enough to qualify. He made it through via a five-way tie for 14th place.
Derek Hitchner, the 2021 State Am champion, found himself in a comparable situation on Friday in Valdosta, Ga., competing on an even longer venue, the formidable Kinderlou Forest, measuring 7,780 yards, par 72. A bogey at the par-3 fifth hole left him at 2 over for 59 holes, necessitating a finish under par for advancement. The former Minnesota high school champion posted 4 under over the next nine holes, starting with a birdie at the 435-yard, par-4 sixth. He quickly added another birdie at the par-4 seventh and continued with consecutive birdies on the back nine, at the 466-yard, par-4 13th and 580-yard, par-5 14th.
Consequently, he could afford to make the bogey at the 240-yard, par-3 15th. He completed his round with a third consecutive 70, following an initial 77, and with only the top 16 and ties able to advance, his total of 287 (-1) placed him in a six-way tie for 12th position, allowing him to progress to Ponte Vedra.
In contrast to VanArragon and Hitchner, Thomas Longbella had the luxury of some leeway, which proved beneficial. He scored 69 in his first two rounds at Valencia CC (7,300 yards, par 72) in Valencia, Calif., and then climbed the leaderboard with a 66 on Thursday. He appeared to be on a steady path until he stumbled with a bogey at the par-3 14th (208 yards), followed by the critical mistake of a double bogey at the 527-yard, par-5 15th.
The 2020 Wisconsin State Amateur champion (who claimed victory with a 10-shot margin) stemmed the downturn with a birdie at the 223-yard, par-3 16th, but lost another stroke with a bogey at the back nine’s other par 5, the 596-yard 18th. His back nine saw a messy 39 and a total round of 76, yet he had a sufficient cushion, finishing with a score of 280 to secure sole possession of 13th place. As the top 15 and ties were eligible for advancement, he managed to qualify from Valencia with a one-shot margin, just ahead of a three-way tie for 14th at 281.
SECOND STAGE (72-hole tournaments)
Palm Coast, Fla.
At Hammock Beach Conservatory
Par 72, 7,659 yards
Dec. 3-6
The top 15 finishers and ties progress to the Final Stage
(Q-School consists of four stages: Preliminary, First Stage, Second Stage, and Final Stage. The Final Stage occurs from Dec. 12-15 at TPC Sawgrass Country Club and Sawgrass CC in Ponte Vedra, Fla., where the top five finishers — and ties — will earn PGA Tour Cards for 2025. Those finishing outside the top five will have varying statuses for the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour.)
Final results
T14. Caleb VanArragon, Blaine 74-68-72-69–283 (-5)
Required: 283 (5-way tie for 14th)
Did not advance
T43. Angus Flanagan, Surrey, UK 74-69-71-78–292
69. Muzzy Donohue, North Oaks 81-77-79-75–312
Valdosta, Ga.
At Kinderlou Forest GC
Par 72, 7,780 yards
Dec. 3-6
The top 16 and ties advance
T12. Derek Hitchner, Minneapolis 77-70-70-70–287 (-1)
Required: 287 (6-way tie for 12th)
Did not advance
62. Gunnar Broin (a), Chanhassen 76-77-77-73–303
Valencia, Calif.
At Valencia CC
Par 72, 7,300 yards
Dec. 3-6
The top 15 and ties move on
13. Thomas Longbella, Chippewa Falls 69-69-66-76–280 (-8)
Required: 281 (3-way tie for 14th)
Did not advance
T46. Ben Warian (a), Stillwater 71-73-73-76–293
Dothan, Ala.
At RTJ Golf Trail @ Highland Oaks — Highlands/Marshwood
Par 72, 7,632 yards
Dec. 3-6
The top 17 and ties progress
Required: 280 (5-way tie for 16th)
Did not advance
T50. Ben Sigel, Minnetonka 71-74-71-73–289
T73. Chris Gilman, Sioux Falls 72-79-75-75–301
Savannah, Ga.
At The Landings – Deer Creek
Par 72, 7,185 yards
Nov. 19-22
The top 20 and ties advance
Final results
Required: 276 (3-way tie for 18th)
Did not advance
T65. Derek Chang, Alpharetta, Ga. 68-72-77-71–288
FIRST STAGE (72 holes)
Ocala, Fla.
At Country Club of Ocala
Par 72, 6,920
Oct. 29-Nov. 1
The top 21 finishers and ties advanced to the Second Stage of Q-School
T18. Muzzy Donohue, North Oaks 71-73-69-69–282
Required: 282 (6-way tie for 18th)
Did not advance
T47. Evan Long, New Castle, Pa. 75-74-74-68–291
Henryville, Ind.
At Champions Pointe GC
Par 72, 7,174 yards
Oct. 22-25
The top 21 finishers and ties progress
T7. Derek Hitchner, Minneapolis 67-67-69-71–274
Required: 277 (3-way tie for 20th)
Did not advance
T39. Brady Madsen, Raymond, Minn. 69-74-66-74–283
Madison, Miss.
At Lake Caroline GC
Par 70, 6,835 yards
Oct. 15-18
The top 21 finishers and ties move on
Required: 273 (5-way tie for 21st)
Did not advance
T37. Van Holmgren, Wayzata 68-68-73-68–277 (-3)
Albuquerque, New Mexico
At The University of New Mexico Championship Course
Par 71, 7,555 yards
Oct. 15-18
The top 21 and ties progress
Required: 286 (3-way tie for 21st)
Did not advance
T52. Andrew McCain, Mpls./Nashville 74-72-73-76–295
WD — Austin Vukovits, Fishers, Ind. 79-WD
Maricopa, Ariz.
At Ak-Chin Southern Dunes
Par 72, 7,546 yards
Oct. 8-11
The top 21 and ties progress
Final results
T4. Ben Warian (a), Stillwater 66-73-69-70–278
Required: 281 (7-way tie for 19th)
Did not advance
T55. Andrew Israelson, Staples 74-69-72-76–291
Lincoln, Neb.
At Wilderness Ridge CC
Par 71, 7,107 yards
Oct. 8-11
The top 25 and ties advance
Final results
T19. Ben Sigel, Minnetonka 72-64-69-72–277
Required: 277 (7-way tie for 19th)
Did not advance
T41. Nate Deziel, East Grand Forks 75-67-69-72–283
T49. Nate Adams, Maple Grove 71-71-71-73–286
T56. Thomas Lehman, Scottsdale, Ariz. 72-74-74-68–288
WD — Jack Ebner, Edina
Broken Arrow, Okla.
At Indian Springs – River Course
Par 71, 6,917 yards
Oct. 8-11
The top 20 and ties will move forward
Final results
T9. Caleb VanArragon, Blaine 71-69-67-70–277
T16. Angus Flanagan, Surrey, England 64-75-70-70–279
Required: 280 (2-way tie for 19th)
Did not advance
T51. Will Grevlos, Sioux Falls 77-71-68-74–290
PRELIMINARY STAGE (54-hole tournaments)
Brunswick, Ga.
At Brunswick GC
Par 70, 6,802 yards
Sept. 18-20
The top 33 and ties progress
T3. Muzzy Donohue, St. Paul 66-67-66–199
Required: 212 (3-way tie for 33rd)
Newton, Kansas
At Sand Creek Station TC
Par 72, 7,337 yards
Sept. 18-20
The top 33 and ties progress
T4. Nate Adams, Maple Grove 72-70-71–213
T12. Nate Deziel, East Grand Forks 75-73-68–216
Required: 222 (3-way tie for 33rd)
Chardon, Ohio
At Mayfield SRC – Sand Ridge
Par 72, 7,277 yards
Sept. 18-20
The top 35 and ties advance
Required: 219 (4-way tie for 33rd)
Did not advance
T66. Zach Sklebar, Fargo 77-80-73–230
Woodstock, Ill.
At Bull Valley GC
Par 72, 7,190 yards
Sept. 11-13
The top 33 and ties progress
T28. Jack Hiemenz, Blaine 75-77-76–228
Required: 228 (6-way tie for 28th)
Did not advance
T43. Aaron Wilson, Chaska 80-72-81–233
Kannapolis, N.C.
At The Club @ Irish Creek
Par 71, 7,144 yards
Sept. 11-13
The top 34 and ties move on
Required: 213 (6-way tie for 31st)
Did not advance
T40. Henry May, Edina 72-70-73–215
