Rozo Wins the Initial 2nd Stage PGA/Korn Ferry Tour Q-School Qualifier

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- It hasn't been a great year for Marcello Rozo. The 35-year-old from Colombia played in 24 events on the Korn Ferry Tour, made the cut only eight times and earned $49,730, which put him at No. 133 on the Korn Ferry money list.

But his prospects are looking up now, after he took medalist honors this week in the first of the five Second Stage qualifying tournaments in the PGA Tour/Korn Ferry Q-School process. Rozo opened the proceedings with an 8-under-par 64 on Tuesday on the Deer Creek course at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club. He followed it with a 69, a 65 and capped things off with a 67 on Friday. All of which added up to 265 (23 under) and that was three better than the second-place total of 268 that was turned in by Zack Fischer.

Rozo has spent a lot of his time since turning professional 12 years ago on the PGA LatinoAmericas Tour (which has been combined with the Canadian Tour to form the PGA Americas Tour), and he had three victories to his credit there. He has also won three times on the Colombian Tour and one time on the Chilean Tour. He nearly won once on the Korn Ferry Tour, at the 2019 Evans Scholars Invitational, where he tied future World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler for first, but lost the playoff to Scheffler's birdie on the second extra hole.

The top 20 finishers from this qualifier -- there was a three-way tie for 18th at 276 -- will advance to the Final Stage of Q-School. That will be played Dec. 12-15 in Ponte Vedra, Fla., and the top five finishers there will earn status on the PGA Tour for 2025.

One player with Minnesota connections was in the field at Deer Creek -- Derek Chang. But the 34-year-old former Gopher from Georgia (he transferred from Minnesota back to Georgia -- Augusta University -- after his sophomore year) killed his chances to advance to the Final Stage when he shot 77 in the third round. He ended up with a 72-hole total of even-par 288 and tied for 65th.

The other four Second Stage qualifiers will all be played the first week of December (Dec. 3-6).


PGA TOUR/KORN FERRY Q-SCHOOL


SECOND STAGE (72-hole tournaments)

Savannah, Ga.

At The Landings - Deer Creek

Par 72, 7,185 yards

Nov. 19-22

The top 20 finishers and ties advance to the Final Stage

(There are four stages to Q-School -- Preliminary, First Stage, Second Stage and Final Stage. The Final Stage will be Dec. 12-15 at TPC Sawgrass Country Club and Sawgrass CC in Ponte Vedra, Fla., and from there the top five fiinishers -- and ties -- will receive PGA Tour Cards for 2025. After that, those finishing at No. 6 through No. 40 will have varying degrees of exempt status for the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour.)

Final results

1. Marcelo Rozo, Boca Raton, Fla. 64-69-65-67--265 (-23)

2. Zack Fischder, Benton, Ariz. 69-64-70-65--268

T3. Cooper Musselman, Louisville, Ky. 68-64-70-67--269

T3. Christopher Crawford, Bensalem, Pa. 66-66-68-69--269

What it took: 276 (3-way tie for 18th)

Failed to 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

What it took: 282 (6-way tie for 18th)

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 advance

T7. Derek Hitchner, Minneapolis 67-67-69-71--274

What it took -- 277 (3-way tie for 20th)

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 advance

What it took -- 273 (5-way tie for 21st)

T37. Van Holmgren, Wayzata 68-68-73-68--277 (-3)


Albequerque, New Mexico

At The University of New Mexico Championship Course

Par 71, 7, 555 yards

Oct. 15-18

The top 21 and ties advance

What it took -- 286 (3-way tie for 21st)

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 advance

Final results

T4. Ben Warian, Stillwater 66-73-69-70--278

What it took -- 281 (7-way tie for 19th)

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

What it took -- 277 (7-way tie for 19th)

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 advance

Final results

T9. Caleb VanArragon, Blaine 71-69-67-70--277

T16. Angus Flanagan, Surey, England 64-75-70-70--279

What it took -- 280 (2-way tie for 19th)

T51. Will Grevlos, Sioux Falls 77-71-68-74--290



PRELIMINARY STAGE (54-hole tournaments)


Brunswick, Ga.

At Brunswidk GC

Par 70, 6,802 yards

Sept. 18-20

The top 33 and ties advanced

T3. Muzzy Donohue, St. Paul 66-67-66--199

What it took -- 212 (3-way tie for 33rd)


Newton, Kansas

At Sand Creek Station TC

Par 72, 7337 yards

Sapt. 18-20

The top 33 and ties advanced

T4. Nate Adams, Maple Grove 72-70-71--213

T12. Nate Deziel, East Grand Forks 75-73-68--216

What it took -- 222 (3-way tie for 33rd)


Chardon, Ohio

At Mayfield SRC - Sand Ridge

Par 72, 7277 yards

Sept. 18-20

The top 35 and tties advanced

What it took -- 219 (4-way tie for 33rd)

Failed to 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 advanced

T28. Jack Hiemenz, Blaine 75-77-76--228

What it took -- 228 (6-way tie for 28th)

Failed to advance

T43. Aaron Wilson,k Chaska 80-72-81--233


Kannapolis, N.C.

At Thr Club @ Irish Creek

Par 71, 7,144 yards

Sept. 11-13

The top 34 fiinishers and ties advanced

What it took -- 213 (6-way tie for 31st

Failed to advance

T40. Hentry May, Edina 72-70-73--215