Nicholas' Closing 63 Makes Him Alabama First Stage Q-School Medalist; McCain's 278 (-10) Not Good Enough

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)