CU golfer Sabrina Iqbal finishes 8th out of 188 at stage II of LPGA Tour qualifying; former Colorado School of Mines player George Markham headed to stage 2 of PGA Tour Q-school
By Gary Baines – 10/20/2023
Sabrina Iqbal, who is playing her final season of college golf for the University of Colorado, also has an eye on the future. And in that regard, this week she easily earned a spot in the final stage of LPGA Tour qualifying, the Q-Series.
And on the men’s side of things, former Colorado School of Mines golfer George Markham punched his ticket to the second stage of PGA Tour Q-school presented by Korn Ferry.
Iqbal, who sits 116th in the women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings, finished eighth out of 188 competitors Friday in stage II of LPGA and Epson Tour qualifying in Venice, Fla. The top 40 finishers and ties can move on to Q-Series.
However, amateur players who advance must turn pro in order to actually compete in the Q-Series; otherwise, they’ll receive Epson Tour status in 2024 whenever they elect to go pro. Players such as Iqbal have the option — until Nov. 17 — to turn pro and be in the field for the Q-Series.
At stage II, the transfer from Texas Christian went 67-76-70-68 for a 7-under-par total of 281, which left her 11 strokes behind medalist Ingrid Lindblad, another amateur. Over the 72 holes, Iqbal posted an eagle, 15 birdies, eight bogeys and one double bogey.
The Q-Series, where the top 45 finishers and ties will earn some LPGA Tour status for 2024, is scheduled for Nov. 30-Dec. 5 in Mobile, Ala.
Meanwhile, at a first stage of PGA Tour Q-school held in Albuquerque, Markham placed 12th out of 80 golfers as the top 20 finishers and ties earned spots in stage 2, which starts next month.
The left-handed golfer carded scores of 70-72-69-68 for a 5-under-par total, which left him nine strokes behind medalist Matthew Walker of Ottumwa, Iowa. Through four days, Markham recorded 17 birdies, 10 bogeys and a double bogey.
George Markham went 69-68 the final two rounds in Albuquerque to advance.
Markham joins Jim Knous of Littleton, Davis Bryant of Aurora and AJ Ott of Fort Collins — all of whom advanced last week — in making it to stage 2. Four more stage 1 tournaments will be held next week.
This week’s tournaments were part of a new-look Q-school that eventually will result in at least five players earning 2024 PGA Tour cards. It’s the first time in a decade that PGA Tour playing privileges are at stake in Q-school.
Five 72-hole second-stage events are scheduled for either Nov. 14-17 or Nov. 28-Dec. 1. And the final stage is planned for TPC Sawgrass and Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Dec. 14-17.
At that final stage, the top five finishers and ties will land 2024 PGA Tour cards. Spots on other tours, including the Korn Ferry circuit, are also at stake during this Q-school. Each player who finishes the final stage of Q-school will have at least some Korn Ferry Tour status for 2024, depending on where they place in that final stage.
PGA TOUR FIRST-STAGE Q-SCHOOL RESULTS FOR LOCAL GOLFERS
Oct. 17-20 in Albuquerque, N.M. (Top 20 and Ties Advance to Stage 2)
Headed to Stage 2
12. Former CO School of Mines golfer George Markham 70-72-69-68–279
Failed to Advance
29. Derek Fribbs of Aurora 73-74-67-69—283
57. Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch 71-73-74-72–290
Oct. 17-20 in Murrieta, Calif. (Top 20 and Ties Advance to Stage 2)
Failed to Advance
66. Former CSU golfer Colton Yates 76-77-72-73—298
For all the results from Q-school, CLICK HERE.
LPGA AND EPSON TOUR STAGE II Q-SCHOOL RESULTS FOR LOCAL GOLFERS
Oct. 17-20 in Venice, Fla. (Top 40 and Ties Advance to Q-Series)
Has the Option of Advancing to Q-Series
8. CU golfer Sabrina Iqbal 67-76-70-68–281
Failed to Advance
149. Former Coloradan Elizabeth Wang 76-74-74-75–299
154. Paige Crawford of Colorado Springs 73-76-73-79–301
161. Former CU golfer Brittany Fan 74-76-75-78–303
For all the scores from Stage II, CLICK HERE.
About the Writer: Gary Baines has covered golf in Colorado continuously since 1983. He was a sports writer at the Daily Camera newspaper in Boulder, then the sports editor there, and has written regularly for ColoradoGolf.org since 2009. He was inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 2022. He owns and operates ColoradoGolfJournal.com