Former Fort Collins resident Matt Liringis takes first step in Korn Ferry Q-school, but former CGA Player of Year AJ Ott falls 1 stroke short of advancing
By Gary Baines – 9/3/2021
The second — and final — week of so-called Korn Ferry Tour Q-school “pre-qualifying” didn’t treat local golfers very kindly, by and large.
Competing for the right to advance to the “first stage” of Q-school, only one player out of the five locals competing made the grade.
Former Fort Collins resident Matt Liringis advanced, but former CGA Player of the Year AJ Ott of Fort Collins fell just short. Also missing out were Zach Allred of Colorado Springs, Tristan Rohrbaugh of Carbondale and former University of Northern Colorado golfer Joshua Matz.
Last week, Derek Fribbs of Aurora and University of Denver golfer John Sand punched their tickets to the first stage.
On Friday, Liringis advanced in pre-qualifying in Lincoln, Neb., where the top 27 finishers and tied moved on. He finished 19th overall, posting rounds of 66-71-72 for a 7-under-par 209 total.
Of the locals who failed to advance, Ott came the closest to making it to the first stage. In Prattville, Ala., the former Colorado State University standout started 77-77, then closed with a 2-under-par 70 to fall one stroke shy of advancing with an 8-over-par 224 total. He made four birdies and two bogeys in the final round.
Liringis, Fribbs and Sand hope to play three more stages of Korn Ferry Tour Q-school. After the first stage this month, if they make it, there’s second stage in October and the final stage Nov. 4-7 in Savannah, Ga. Their hope is, at the end of it all, they’ll have a Korn Ferry Tour card or status on a PGA Tour-affiliated circuit.
Here are the results for the players with strong Colorado ties at KFT pre-qualifying tournaments this week:
LINCOLN, NEB (Top 27 and Ties Advance)
Advance to “First Stage” of Q-School
19. Former Fort Collins resident Matt Liringis 66-71-72–209
Failed to Advance
43. Zach Allred, Colorado Springs 74-70-73–217
46. Former UNC golfer Joshua Matz, 77-70-72–219
PRATTVILLE, ALA. (Top 33 and Ties Advance)
Failed to Advance
36. AJ Ott, Fort Collins 77-77-70–224
LA QUINTA, CALIF. (Top 35 and Ties Advance)
Failed to Advance
Tristan Rohrbaugh, Carbondale 74-77-73—224