Former Vanderbilt golfer Matthew Riedel
photo by Vanderbilt Athletics
The pressure is starting take its toll as the PGA Tour Q-School presented by Korn Ferry reached the halfway point on Friday judging by the scores that were posted.
With stiff winds and chilly temperatures adding to the challenge in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., scores were higher on the par 70 host sites than Thursday’s opening round. The Dye’s Valley course at TPC Sawgrass played a full stroke harder at 72.58 while Sawgrass Country Club yielded an average score of 75.11 on Friday, two shots north of the result from Round 1.
While 11 golfers managed to break par at the Dye’s Valley course, the same couldn’t be said at Sawgrass CC. None of the contestants could wrangle their way into red figures on the original site of the Tournament Players Championship, with only four finding the satisfaction of even par for their round.
First-round leader Corey Shaun was Exhibit A of the carnage transpiring. After firing a course-record 61 in his opening round at Dye’s Valley, the former UCLA performer finished his loop at Sawgrass CC on Friday in 76 – a 15-shot differential.
But for Matthew Riedel, it was business as usual on Friday. The former Vanderbilt golfer, who was a PING Second-Team All-American this past season and runner-up at the 2024 SEC Championship, navigated his way around Dye’s Valley in 1-under 69, joining two others with a share of the lead at 3-under 137.
The 24-year-old Riedel, a native of Houston, Texas, had birdies on Nos. 2 and 13 and a lone bogey on 11 one day after shooting in impressive 68 at Sawgrass CC to move up from 7th place entering the day. He finished fourth in the PGA Tour University rankings last spring to merit full exemption onto the Korn Ferry Tour following his final season with the Commodores. He made the cut in six of his 14 starts including a runner-up finish, earning $114,363 in his brief stint as a professional.
Also joining Riedel atop the leaderboard are Shaun and 30-year-old veteran Alistair Docherty, who carded a 4-under 66 at Dye’s Valley on Friday.
The top five finishers plus ties after Sunday’s final round will be awarded 2025 PGA Tour cards, with the remainder of the golfers earning status on either the Korn Ferry Tour or PGA Tour Americas based upon their placement.
Among the other contestants with ties to Tennessee, Memphis native and Korn Ferry Tour regular Grant Hirschman is tied for 15th after posting a 3-over 73 at Sawgrass CC, earning a two-day total of 1-over 141. Former Lipscomb standout Dawson Armstrong of Spring Hill is tied for 33rd at 3-over 143 after shooting an even par 72.
Bryce Lewis, who played at Tennessee collegiately, joins Knoxville native and former Alabama golfer Davis Shore among a group at 6-over 146 in a tie for 79th. Lewis shot 75 at Dye’s Valley on Friday, while Shore posted a 74 at Sawgrass CC.
Those deadlocked at 8-over 148 in 112th spot include Knoxville’s Ryan Hall and recent MTSU grad Owen Stamper. Dickson’s Billy Tom Sargent, former Vandy golfers John Augenstein and Cole Sherwood finished their second rounds at 9-over 149, tied for 122nd.
Other golfers with Volunteer State ties include Belmont graduate Ashton Van Horne at 10-over 150 (T135), Kyle Cottam of Knoxville at 11-over 151 (T142), former Tennessee golfer and Knoxville amateur Jake Hall at 12-over 152 (T148) and UTC graduate John Houk of Athens at 14-over 154 (T157).
Erik Barnes, a former Austin Peay golfer and long-time professional on both the PGA and Korn Ferry Tours, withdrew after closing at 19-over 159.
Both final rounds can be seen this weekend from 1-3 EST on the NBC Sports streaming app, and will be broadcast from 3-5 on Golf Channel.
For complete results, go to PGA Tour Q-School Results
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com