A trio of golfers from Knoxville will join Spring Hill’s Dawson Armstrong in the next phase of the PGA Tour Q-School marathon after proving themselves at First Stage qualifying.
Armstrong, who played collegiately at Lipscomb University, shot 14-under 274 to finish as runner-up in the Rockwall, Texas qualifier, three shots off the lead after shooting 68 on Friday.
Meanwhile, Knoxville residents Jake Hall, Ryan Hall and Jake Mynatt all advanced as well. Jake Hall, who is still competing as an amateur after graduating from the University of Tennessee last spring, finished third in the East Bermuda Run, N.C. tournament with a final score of 1-under 273.
Mynatt, a former Carson-Newman University golfer, shot a final round 67 to climb from 37th to at tie for 15th in the North Carolina event as each site advanced the top 21 finishers plus ties.
Ryan Hall played in the Albuquerque, N.M. qualifier where the former University of South Carolina standout was runner-up with a final score of 6-under 278, seven shots behind the medalist.
The four golfers will join last week’s qualifiers - former UT golfer Spencer Cross of Sevierville and South Carolina letterman Scott Stevens who prepped at Chattanooga Christian - in the Second Stage tournaments at one of five sites in late November and early December.
For other Tennessee golfers hoping to earn professional status via the Q-School odyssey, the results weren’t as favorable.
Nashville amateur Blades Brown finished tied for 23rd with a 5-under 283 at West Palm Beach to miss advancing by two shots, while a pair of former Baylor School golfers failed to progress from their qualifier in Madison, Miss.
Blake Maum was tied for 11th entering Friday’s last of four rounds, but a 73 left him at 3-under 277 and tied for 37th. Just ahead of Maum was Oliver Simonsen, who competed at UTC after finishing at Baylor, missing by three shots from advancing with a score of 4-under 276 to tie for 33rd.
At the North Carolina qualifier, former MTSU golfer Connor McKay (1-over 285, T35), former UT golfer Tyler Johnson (7-over 291, 59) and former Carson-Newman player Thomas Forster (18-over 302, T71) all failed to advance.
Others who saw their Q-school hopes dashed included Franklin’s Gavin Clements who competed for MTSU (9-over 297, T63) in West Palm Beach, and former Dalton State performer Chase Jones (14-over 294, T76) in Mississippi.
Next week will feature two more qualifiers with a solid Volunteer State contingent. Nashville’s Josh Bevell, Jack and Walker Crosby from Memphis, The Farm assistant professional Matthew Cleary, Tennessee Mid-Amateur runner-up Grant Leaver from Murfreesboro and former UTC golfer John Houk will take on RTJ Magnolia Grove outside of Mobile, Ala.
Also, former MTSU golfer Connor Daly and former Tennessee Vol Hunter Wolcott of Burns will compete in Henryville, Ind.
The final qualifier set to begin Oct. 29 in Ocala, Fla. will include former UTC golfers Samuel Espinosa-Trueba of Spain and Ireland’s Paul Conroy.
Players who advance from Second Stage will qualify for PGA Tour Q-School’s Final Stage, contested at TPC Sawgrass’ Dye’s Valley Course and Sawgrass Country Club (Dec. 12-15) with a chance at PGA Tour cards.
The top five finishers (and ties) at PGA Tour Q-School Final Stage will earn 2025 PGA Tour membership. Players who finish outside the top five and ties at Final Stage will earn 2025 Korn Ferry Tour membership, with status determined based on the position of finish.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com