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November 8, 2007

Q School is in session

Chapter one at PGA Tour Qualifying School is finished, with mixed results for area players.

Rodney Butcher, Jeff Martin and Greg Sampson are among those who have advanced, while Mike Capone, Michael Carbone and Joey Iaciofano are among those who did not make it through.

Here, in no particular order, is a list of area players who took part in the first of the three-step process to earn a tour card:

Johnson & Wales grad Jim Renner of Plainville moved through easily at the Grasslands Club in Lakeland, Fla., firing rounds of 72-68-70-67 to tie for ninth at 277. Butcher tied for 19th two strokes inside the cut line, at the same site with rounds of 69-70-68-73 for 280.

Quidnessett’s Capone, who spent this year on the Nationwide Tour, was among those eliminated. He had rounds of 72-76-70-70 for 288, tying for 57th, seven strokes more than needed.

Renner’s former Johnson & Wales temmate, Mike Welch of Quincy, Mass., not only moved on, he was medalist in play at Florence, S.C., Country Club with rounds of 65-66-67-67. Another Bay Stater, Geoff Sisk, the dominant player on the New England circuit, tied for second at 266, one behind Welch, on rounds of 66-64-67-69.

Crestwood’s Sampson also played well in Florence with rounds of 66-70-69-68 to tie for 14th at 273, four shots inside the line. New Bedford’s Kevin Silva made it on the number at 277 with rounds of 70-70-67-70 for 277.

Metacomet’s Joey Iaciofano got off to a tough start in play at Lantana, Tex., where scores were high throughout and never recovered. He finished 65th with rounds of 79-77-79-72 for 207. All those who shot 5-over 293 advanced.

Also in Texas, at Cypresswood in Spring, Tex., URI grad Michael Sims, who had another injury-plagued season on the Nationwide Tour, moved on. He had rounds of 74-68-74-66, closing with birdies on four of his last five holes on the final day to tie for sixth.

Point Judith’s Martin was sent to McKinney, Tex., where he shot 72-69-72-68 for 281 at Stonebridge Ranch to tie for 12th, advancing with four shots to spare.

At Auburn University, two of the guys who were battling for the Northeast Amateur title in June, Dustin Johnson and Colt Knost, both advanced easily, Johnson winning the medal by eight shots and Knost tying for sixth. The victims there included former teen phenom Ty Tyron who finished 22 shots behind Johnson.

URI grad Carbone tied for 31st, at 282, two above the cut line, in play at Martin Downs CC in Palm City, Fla.

The second stage will be held at six sites next week. We will report on what happens as the events move along.

Posted by Paul Kenyon  at 10:19 AM to Paul Kenyon on Golf | Permalink

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