Colorado native Gunner Wiebe wins Korn Ferry Tour Q-school first-stage tournament; former DU golfers Chris Gilman and John Sand also advance to second stage
By Gary Baines – 10/1/2021
Gunner Wiebe not only advanced to the second stage of Korn Ferry Tour qualifying this week, he did so with an exclamation mark.
Wiebe, who was born and raised in Colorado and was the 2010 CGA Player of the Year, won the 75-player first-stage tournament in Dayton, Nev., on Friday.
The top 20 finishers and ties earned spots into the second stage of Q-school, but Wiebe claimed medalist honors. He went 69-67-66-66 for a 20-under-par 268 total to prevail by one stroke despite a double bogey on his final hole.
For 72 holes, Wiebe amazingly did not make a bogey, though he did record three doubles. Meanwhile, he racked up 26 birdies.
For more on Wiebe’s return to full-time playing as a professional, CLICK HERE.
Korn Ferry Tour Q-school involves four stages — pre-qualifying and first, second and third. Players who advance to the final stage of KFT Q-school — set for Nov. 4-7 in Savannah, Ga. — are guaranteed at least conditional status on the Korn Ferry circuit in 2022.
Joining Wiebe in advancing to stage 2 on Friday — though at separate sites — were two former University of Denver golfers. Chris Gilman finished fourth in a first-stage event in Kannapolis, N.C., going 67-70-67-66. And John Sand placed seventh in a tournament in Lincoln, Neb., posting scores of 71-67-65-72.
Last week, four players with strong Colorado connections made it to stage 2: Coloradans Chris Korte and Jake Staiano, former Colorado School of Mines golfer George Markham and former Fort Collins resident Matthew Liringis.
In all, six first-stage tournaments were held this week. Overall, 13 were on the docket this year.
Second-stage tournaments will be held Oct. 12-15 or Oct. 19-22.
At the final-stage tournament, the Q-School medalist receives fully exempt status the following season, and finishers 2-10 and 11-40 earn exemptions for part of the season. Those who place 41st and lower will receive conditional KFT status.
Here are the scores for all of the players with strong Colorado connections who competed in stage 1 Q-school tournaments this week:
Dayton, Nev. (Top 20 and Ties Advance to Stage 2)
Advance to Stage 2
1. Former Coloradan Gunner Wiebe 69-67-66-66—268
Kannapolis, N.C. (Top 20 and Ties Advance to Stage 2)
Advance to Stage 2
4. Former DU golfer Chris Gilman 67-70-67-66–270
Failed to Advance to Stage 2
25. Former CoBank Colorado Open champion Dru Love 69-71-68-69–277
Lincoln, Neb. (Top 21 and Ties Advance to Stage 2)
Advance to Stage 2
7. Former DU golfer John Sand 71-67-65-72—275
Failed to Advance to Stage 2
41. Steven Kupcho, Westminster 67-74-74-70–285
WD. Ryan Schmitz, Littleton 80-76-WD
Woodstock, Ill. (Top 19 and Ties Advance to Stage 2)
Failed to Advance to Stage 2
29. Nick Mason, Englewood 73-73-71-73–290
Gunter, Texas (Top 20 and Ties Advance to Stage 2)
Failed to Advance to Stage 2
35. Former CSU golfer Blake Cannon 69-71-72-71–283
49. Former Coloradan Dan Erickson 70-74-70-73–287
For all the results from Q-school, CLICK HERE.