Minnesotans in PGA Tour/Korn Ferry Q-School

If you don't count bull-fighting, the greatest torture test in sports is probably the PGA Tour/Korn Ferry Q-School, where professional golfers get to play for a year of their lives. That's pressure. 

The 2025 version of Q-School began last week with Pre-Qualifying at five sites. 

Cecil Belisle won nearly every tournament there was for him  to win in Minnesota while he was an amateur, beginning with the Minnesota state high school tournament, which he won as a sophomore at Red Wing 2017, and again as a senior. 

He also won the Players Championship (twice), the State Open and the Resorters. He didn't win the State Amateur, but tied Nate Stevens for second, behind Nate Deziel, in 2024.

So it's a little bit surprising that with a record like that, he had to go through the Q-School's Pre-Qualifying, which is the first of four stages -- Pre-Qualifying, First Stage, Second Stage and Final Stage. 

Nevertheless, he did, but it wasn't a problem for the former University of Kansas star. He shot three consecutive 3-under-par 69s at Yolo Fliers Club in Woodland, Calif., and his 54-hole total of 207 earned him a tie for third.

Justin Biwer, who set or tied 39 school records at Colorado, was the medalist by four shots with a 202 aggregate. Dylan Mcdermott took second place with a 206.

Belisle was in position to finish alone in second -- until he made a double bogey on the 444-yard 18th hole on the final day. Despite that, he advanced to the First Stage with eight shots to spare. 

The top 37 and ties advanced, which worked out to 40 guys, because there was a six-way tie for 35th at 215. 

Two other Minnesotans advanced -- Aaron Wilson and Henry May -- but they cut it a lot closer. 

Both played at Bull Valley GC in Woodstock, Ill., where Marshall Meisel, a former Wake Forest All-American lapped the field. After opening with a 72 (even par), he shot 67-67, and the resulting total of 206 was good for a five-stroke victory. 

It took a total of 224 to advance, and May made it on the number (77-71-76--224). The number of players to move on was set at 40, and that's how many made it, after six players tied for 35th at 224. 

Wilson was one better than that at 223 (75-73-75), in a five-way tie for 30th 

For those who make it all the way through the Q-School ordeal, the Final Stage will be Dec. 1l-14 at TPC Sawgrass in Florida.

PGA Tour/Korn Ferry Tour Q-School 
Pre-Qualifying 

Sept. 17-19
Woodland, Calif.
At Yolo Fliers Golf Club
Par 72, 6,894 yards 
Final results (top 37 plus ties advance to the 1st Stage)

1. Justin Biwer Grand Rapids, Mich.           69-67-66--202
2. Dylan Mcdermott, Granite Bay, Calif.        71--68-67--206
T3. Cecil Belisle, Red Wing                          69-69-69--207
T3. Mateo Fuenmayor, Beaverton, Oregon    68-68-71--207

What it took to advance -- 215 (6-way tie for 35th)

Woodstock, Ill.
At Bull Valley GC
Par 72, 7190 yards
Final results (top 40 plus ties advance) 

1. Marshall Meisel, Chevy Chase, Md.           72-67-67--206
2. Caleb Bapp, Fishers, Ind.                           67-72-72--211
3. Freddy D'Angelo, Niagara Falls, Ontario    73-73-66--212
T30. Aaron Wilson, Chaska                            75-73-75--223
T35. Henry May, Edina                                    77-71-76--224

What it took -- 224 (6-way tie for 35th)