The first stage of PGA Tour Q-School wrapped up last week, spanning 14 sites across the country. Nearly 300 players advanced to the second stage — and plenty of recognizable names didn’t.
We recap every site below, highlighting medalists, clutch rounds, and the players who kept their dreams alive (and those who didn’t).
(If you read all 3,000 words of this, seek help immediately.)
Texas — Rockwall Golf & Athletic Club
(Par 72 – 7,414 yards – 75.8 rating – 133 slope)
Medalist: Matthew Watkins (-24)
Watkins cruised to an eight-shot win, finishing 15 clear of the cut line — about as stress-free as Q-School gets. The Rockwall native had the local edge being from the area, but no PGA Tour-sanctioned starts before this.
Cut Line: -9
Clutch Performance:
Dawson Armstrong — Known for late-stage surges, Armstrong started the final round five off the number, then went bogey-free with a six-under 66, finishing with three straight birdies to advance.
Advancing:
Curtis Thompson — The veteran of 170 KFT starts (and brother of Lexi) birdied three of his final five holes to make it on the number.Turk Pettit — The 2021 NCAA champ (Clemson) and former LIV player finished T6 after a steady week.Kieren Vincent — Another former LIV member who advanced despite a closing 73.
Notable Misses:
Jazz Janewattananond — Jazz turned pro at age 14 and once was ranked 38th in the world, the Thai pro has struggled the last few years. Grant Hirschman — The veteran KFT member (117 career starts) missed by one after a closing 73.Clay Feagler — The Pepperdine alum withdrew after an opening 74, continuing a tough stretch. Feagler finished 145th in KFT points this season.
Leaderboard ›
Kansas — Sand Creek Station GC
(Par 72 – 7,400 yards – 76.0 rating – 144 slope)
Medalist: Charlie Crockett (-16)
The 2024 Mizzou grad continued his breakout summer, following a $70,000 run on the Dakotas Tour with a medal here.
Cut Line: -7
Clutch Performance:
Joseph Winslow — Started five off the number, then fired a bogey-free 67 (second-lowest of the day) to sneak through by one.
Advancing:
Callum McNeil — The Scottish native, who turned pro after encouragement from Hal Sutton, finished T4.Luke Gannon — The longtime grinder and former janitor at his father’s church moves on after another solid week.
Notable Misses:
Chase Hanna — The Kansas product who has 180 starts on the European and DP World Tour withdrew late after being +2 with five holes to play.Austin Lemieux — Mario Lemieux’s son saw his week undone by a third-round 76. (Ironically, a 66 would have been good enough) Vince India — India holds a Q-school record that, in my opinion, will never be broken. He once made it through both first and second stage in six consecutive seasons. But he hasn’t been able to find form since returning from his suspension for gambling.
Leaderboard ›
Mississippi — Lake Caroline GC
(Par 70 – 6,835 yards – 73.2 rating – 123 slope)
Co-Medalists: Nic Cassidy & Hayden Wood (-23)
Cassidy’s 58–62 stretch over Rounds 2 and 3 was outrageous — 120 strokes in two rounds under Q-School pressure.
Wood, an Oklahoma State alum, closed with four straight rounds of 65 or better.
Cut Line: -9
Clutch Performance:
Trevor Lampson — Began the final round five off the number, then opened with six straight birdies en route to a 64, finishing two inside the line.
Advancing:
Ryan Cole — One of the best mini-tour players in the country, Monday-qualified into multiple KFT events this year.Zander Winston — A Dakotas Tour legend who had no trouble advancing.Johnnie Greco — Advanced on the number after a final-round 69. Greco got through all three stages last season but struggled on KFT.
Notable Miss:
Michael Arnaud — The 44-year-old former KFT winner shot 66 but fell three short.
Leaderboard ›
New Mexico — UNM Championship Course
(Par 71 – 7,555 yards – 75.2 rating – 134 slope)
Medalist: Corey Pereira
Pereira’s comeback to golf following the death of his wife, Leah, has been remarkable. Just months after her passing in June, he Monday-qualified for a PGA Tour event — and now adds medalist honors here.
Cut Line: -4
Clutch Performance:
Jeevan Sihota — Started on the number, opened with three bogeys and a double, then birdied 17 and 18 to advance. #stones
Advancing:
Jake Staiano — Served a betting suspension in 2023 but rebounded with a strong Americas Tour season and now moves on to Second Stage. Ryan Hall — The “Monday Q King” shot 66 on Sunday to get through by two. Hall has a total of 13 successful Monday Q’s between KFT and PGA Tours.
Notable Misses:
Ryan Ruffels — The Australian prodigy who played 18 PGA Tour events before he turned 19, lost KFT status in 2022 and has concentrated mostly on YouTube since then. Mitchell Schow — Tony Finau–backed player from Utah finished 53rd. Read my story on his journey and how the Finau Foundation has kept his career going here. Leaderboard ›Nebraska — Wilderness Ridge CC
(Par 71 – 7,108 yards – 74.9 rating – 135 slope)
Medalist: Travis Smyth (-18)
The 30-year-old Aussie and Asian Tour veteran birdied three of his last four holes to win. Smyth played the first three LIV events when the league started in 2021.
Cut Line: -9
Clutch Performance:
Luke Gutschewski — Son of PGA Tour vet Scott Gutschewski, Luke went bogey-free with a 64, four birdies in his last six holes, to advance. It was no surprise to see, as the Iowa State alum gained status on the Americas Tour after a successful Monday Q.
Advancing:
Brady Calkins — The Dakotas Tour legend grabbed the final spot with a closing 67.Rayhan Thomas — Thomas finished 88th in KFT points this year, but missed a vital start at the end of the season when the Tour made a mistake in the priority rankings. Hunter Eichhorn — The Michigan native from the U.P. continues his steady rise. Read about his amazing journey in an article I wrote in 2023 here.
Notable Misses:
Tommy Kuhl — Illinois All-American missed by two despite a 69. After a spectacular Senior season for the Illini in 2023 Kuhl has struggled as a pro. Scott Stevens — “Cardboard” from the Bryan Bros’ crew finished +2.
Leaderboard ›
Alabama — Magnolia Grove Crossing
(Par 72 – 7,243 yards – 74.7 rating – 143 slope)
Medalist: Deven Patel (-24)
The University of Virginia senior (still amateur) shot 69-65-64-66 to dominate. If he advances from Second Stage, he’ll have a big decision about turning pro.
Cut Line: -12
Clutch Performance:
Eric Boutwell — The Montevallo DII grad birdied two of his last four to shoot 67 and make it on the number.
Advancing:
Marcus Plunkett — Army veteran and West Point grad breezed through by four. He had KFT status last season, but wasn’t able to retain his card. Grant Leaver — At 39, made his first Q-School run in years and snuck through.
Notable Misses:
Jacob Bergeron — The former LSU prodigy fell two short after a closing 76. This season Bergeron played three Americas Tour events, missing the cut in all three. The prior season he made just two of 21 cuts on the KFT. Keenan Huskey and Garrett Reband — Both former KFT players came up short.
Leaderboard ›
Florida — The Preserve at Ironhorse (West Palm Beach)
(Par 72 – 7,322 yards – 75.5 rating – 145 slope)
Medalist: Andrew Kozan (-16)
The former Auburn star with 89 career KFT starts posted 67-68-68-69 for a steady win.
Cut Line: -9
Clutch Performance:
Domenico Geminiani — A Florida mini-tour regular — and pro pickleball player — birdied 17 and eagled 18 to sneak through.
Advancing:
Willie Mack II — The Flint, MI native keeps grinding for another Tour shot.Shun Yat Hak — The former No.1 junior in the world advanced with a 67. Hak turned pro after just one season at Georgia Tech but hasn’t had much success. Still only 31, he looks to fulfill the immense promise. Cristian DiMarco — Chris DiMarco’s son, who putts left-handed and hits every other shot right-handed, finished on the number.
Notable Misses:
Olin Browne Jr. — A Round 3 78 doomed him. Billy Kennerly — Injuries continue to stall his comeback.
Leaderboard ›
Indiana — Champions Pointe GC
(Par 72 – 7,174 yards – 74.9 rating – 141 slope)
Medalist: RJ Manke (-19)
The Pepperdine alum shot 65 on day one and closed strong to win by one.
Cut Line: -11
Clutch Performance:
Danny Fisher — Four off the number with six holes left, then birdied five of six to get through by two. Fisher played just nine Americas Tour events this year but still managed to finish 45th in points.
Advancing:
Kevin Hall — The 43-year-old who is completely deaf has won numerous times on mini-tours across the country, including this season the APGA. The OSU alum turned pro in 2002. JJ Grey — Keeps honoring his late friend Sam Asbury through his play. Read the full article about Sam and how JJ keeps his legacy alive here. Dylan Meyer — The All-American from the University of Illinois. Meyer left playing full time to run the golf course that he grew up on. Despite that, he still has the game, evidenced by a final-round 66 to advance.
Notable Misses:
Tyler Strafaci — The 2020 U.S. Am champ missed by seven.Nick Bienz — The viral “beer-and-birdie” guy from Rocket Mortgage Monday Q shot 79 on the final day after starting the round on the number.
Leaderboard ›
North Carolina — Bermuda Run CC
(Par 71 – 6,962 yards – 74.1 rating – 139 slope)
Medalist: Brandon Berry (-19)
Berry bounced back after a really unfortunate finish to his KFT season. At the second to last event, Berry played the wrong ball late in the second round, which resulted in him missing the cut. It left him 76th in points and just one spot short of full status for 2026. However, he bounced back well, winning the stage by five strokes.
Cut Line: -5
Clutch Performance:
Carter Graf — Fired a front-nine 30 en route to a 66 and got through on the number.
Advancing:
Jared Wolfe — Two-time KFT winner shot 67 Sunday to move on.Fred Biondi — The 2023 NCAA champ bounced back with a closing 66. The pro game has been a struggle for the former Florida Gator but he has shown signs of turning things around of late.
Notable Misses:
Taylor Funk — Fred’s son struggled, finishing +5.Michael Sweeney — The “rapping golfer” missed after a rough week. Read about his amazing journey from “shoveling shit” to multi-time mini-tour winner here.
Leaderboard ›
Texas — Sugartree GC
(Par 71 – 6,824 yards – 74.1 rating – 137 slope)
Medalist: Sangha Park (-18)
Raised in South Korea, Park learned golf in simulators while his parents worked nights. He then was accepted to K.J. Choi’s foundation and mentored by the major champion on his way to pro golf.
Cut Line: -9
Clutch Performance:
Johnny De Los Reyes — Needed something special in the final round — and he delivered a bogey-free 63 to advance on the number.
Advancing:
Sam Bennett — The 2022 U.S. Am champ rebounded from a rough KFT season, finishing two inside the line at home. In 2024, Bennett finished just one spot outside of earning a PGA Tour card.
Notable Miss:
William Moll — The Vanderbilt product finished five outside the cut.
Leaderboard ›
Florida — Country Club of Ocala
(Par 72 – 6,920 yards – 74.1 rating – 140 slope)
Co-Medalists: Ivan Camilo Ramirez & Luis Gagne (-16)
Ramirez (Texas Tech) and Gagne (LSU) both handled Ocala’s tight fairways with ease.
Cut Line: -7
Clutch Performance:
Cole Anderson — Closed 66–64 to coast through, the best final 36-hole score by four, to easily advance.
Advancing:
MJ Daffue — The South African and former PGA Tour member shot steady 70s to move on. This season, Daffue was unable to fulfill his PGA Tour medical and also struggled on the KFT. Joey Garber — The Georgia Bulldog and 149-time KFT starter continues his comeback.Muzzy Donohue — Great name, better golf — through to Second Stage.
Notable Misses:
Andy Svoboda — The longtime grinder who has nearly 300 starts combined on KFT and PGA Tour, birdied his final two but fell one short. He is currently a pro at Butler National in the Chicago AreaBeau Titsworth— The best name in golf fell three short.Andy Zhang—After a great amateur career the pro game has been a real struggle since turning pro in 2018. This season Zhang played on the Americas Tour, making five of 10 cuts and finishing 80th in points. Erik Barnes — A long-time mini-tour grinder, Barnes was a PGA Tour member last year. He nearly won in Puerto Rico, losing in a playoff. However, he unfortunately has battled issues with the driver and has really struggled. This season he didn’t make a cut in 11 events and didn’t break 70. Those struggles continued at Q-school. After opening with an 84 he WD during the second round.
Leaderboard ›
New Jersey — Galloping Hill GC
(Par 71 – 6,856 yards – 73.4 rating – 134 slope)
Co-Medalists: David Pastore & Braden Shattuck (-17)
Shattuck’s recovery from a back injury after a 2021 car accident remains one of golf’s best comeback stories. The Philly pro had to remake his golf swing to take pressure off his back after suffering two herniated discs in the accident.
The 33-year-old Pastore played six Americas events this season, making three cuts.
Cut Line: -8
Clutch Performances:
Jimmy Jones & Michael Graboyes — Both birdied their final three holes to advance on the number — bumping eight players out.
Advancing:
Jhared Hack — The beloved grinder shot 67 to finish T3. Read about his story and a playoff he had with Mark Baldwin here. Michael Miller — Veteran of 70 KFT starts moves on after a T9 finish. Last season Miller advanced to the final round of European Tour Q-school. PGA Tour member Brandon Matthews helped save Miller’s career a few years ago with an invite to his pro-am that Miller won after spending the nights in his car that week.
Notable Misses:
James Piot — The former U.S. Am champ couldn’t keep momentum after a hot start. After serving his suspension for playing on LIV for two years and getting over some injuries, Piot has started to play well. He will have Americas Tour status next season after a Monday Q jumpstarted his season there. Albin Choi — The Canadian talent fell back to +5. Choi was one of the best college players in North Carolina State history despite losing his mom his freshman year in college.
Leaderboard ›
Arizona — Ak-Chin Southern Dunes GC
(Par 72 – 7,546 yards – 75.2 rating – 138 slope)
Medalist: Tyler Leach (-22)
The Marquette alum shot 68-66-67-65 to win by three and keep his strong 2025 season rolling.
Cut Line: -12
Clutch Performance:
Jonathan Walters — The longtime Asher Tour player who turned pro after a season at a community college came into the final round one outside the number. A nine birdie, bogey-free, 63 in the final round, the best score of the day by two added up to a trip to second stage.
Advancing:
KK Limbhasut — The Thai pro made five KFT cuts this season. He is the ultimate grinder, playing anywhere worldwide where he can get a start. He recently had a runner-up finish on the All Thailand TourMichael Feagles — Illinois alum advanced with help from a 63 of his own. Feagles had KFT status in 2023 and has played really well on mini-tours and at state opens since losing his status.
Notable Misses:
Chase Johnson— The former Kent State standout qualified for the U.S. Open this year and once again had a great season on the APGA Tour after winning player of the year in 2023 and 2024. A final round 67 left Johnson two shots short of getting through. Brandon Harkins— The former PGA Tour member and veteran of the KFT struggled all season and those continued at Q-school. Mark Baldwin wrote about playing with him here. Patrick Flavin — A Monday Q juggernaut and great dude, Flavin shot under par all four days, but his 10-under was two strokes shy.
Leaderboard ›
California — Bear Creek GC
(Par 72 – 7,188 yards – 75.1 rating – 143 slope)
Medalist: David Longmire (-20)
The 32-year-old shot a third-round 65 and earned status for the 2026 Americas Tour if he isn’t able to advance past Second Stage.
Cut Line: -7
Clutch Performance:
Christopher Chomyn — The Stanislaus State grad (A DII school in California) posted a final-round 67 to make it on the number — the best round of the day.
Advancing:
Corey Shaun — Last year Shaun got through all three stages of both European and KFT Q-schools, earning status on both. However, he struggled at the end of the European season missing his last eight consecutive cuts and losing his card. David Carey — The Irishman who once shot 57 on the Alps Tour and made the cut at the 2022 Open at St. Andrews advanced.
Notable Misses:
Brent Grant, Tain Lee, Xinjun Zhang — All former PGA or KFT players who couldn’t regain momentum.
Leaderboard ›
Fourteen sites. Dozens of birdies on 18. Hundreds of players fighting to keep their pro golf dreams alive — and nearly 300 moving on.
Q-School’s First Stage delivered everything it always does: 58s and 63s, veterans hanging on by a stroke, amateurs playing beyond their years, and pros chasing redemption. For every story of triumph, there were just as many heartbreaks that came down to a single putt.
Next stop: Second Stage, where the margins shrink even further — and where the few who survive will earn a real shot at Korn Ferry and PGA Tour cards.
