Competitors at PGA Tour Q-School can put the Pepto Bismol on hold for another day as officials announced on Sunday morning, US time, that the final round had been postponed a day.
TPC Sawgrass’ Valley course and Sawgrass Country Club, the two courses jointly holding the event in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, received more heavy rains overnight after getting several inches on Saturday. With more wet weather in the forecast, along with gusts expected to blow in the 40mph range, the decision was made to wait a day partially out of fairness to the competitors who are playing for their livelihoods in 2024 and partially because of the work needed to get the courses back into playing shape.
Due to overnight rainfall, extensive maintenance work is needed on both golf courses. The final round of PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry has been delayed to Monday, Dec. 18th.⁰⁰All starting times will be at their original posted times, beginning at 8:45 a.m. ET.…
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) December 17, 2023
The top five finishes and ties earn full PGA Tour status, the first time there has been direct qualifying for the PGA Tour since 2012. The next 40 finishers and ties earn full Korn Ferry Tour cards, with the next 20 and ties guaranteed starts on the PGA Tour Americas.
Holding the 54-hole lead at 12-under 198 is Sydney’s Harrison Endycott [top], a rookie a year ago on the PGA Tour who finished outside the top 125 on the FedEx Cup points list (139th) and thus has only conditional status on the PGA Tour in 2024. The remaining players in the top five, however, are on the outside looking in when it comes to the PGA Tour.
Blaine Hale Jnr is a 25-year-old former University of Oklahoma golfer who has shot three rounds of 67 or better to sit at 10-under, two behind Endycott. “I mean, this is a dream. To get to play professional golf. It’s been my dream since I was 3 years old,” said Hale, who has no status on any primary tour. “Just to get the opportunity to continue my dream is emotional. It should be.”
Tied for third is Spencer Levin, a 39-year-old who played several years on the PGA Tour, making 227 starts but hasn’t had full status since 2017.
“I’ve been a pro now for almost 20 years, so there’s been a lot of golf, a lot of miles travelled,” said Levin, who won a KFT event earlier this year for his first victory in 15 years. “Good golf this week has got me in a good position, and I’ve kind of been around the block every which way with this game, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow. It’ll be fun.”
Tied with Levin for third is Trevor Crowe, a 27-year-old who nearly won his PGA Tour card via the Korn Ferry Tour this season only to stumble on the weekend Korn Ferry Tour Championship. In fifth place is Raul Perada, 27, has had one PGA Tour start in his entire career (the 2023 Mexico Open) and entered Q-School with no status anywhere. Earning a card would make him the only golfer of Mexican descent who would be active on tour. He’s tied with Hayden Springer, who finished first on the PGA Tour Canada in 2023, exempting him into this week’s final stage of Q-School. Springer is playing just a month after the tragic passing of his 3-year-old daughter Sage, who died after battling Trisomy 18.
Suffice it to say what Springer will face in the final round pails in comparison to the trauma he’s already gone through. Rather, it will allow him to try to help move on.
Battling with a heavy heart.
Last month, Hayden Springer’s daughter passed away at age 3 after battling Trisomy 18.
Hayden and his wife, Emma, reflect on Sage’s legacy after a T3 start at Final Stage. pic.twitter.com/q5n03dvxyf— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) December 14, 2023
Other notable names lurking just outside the top five include former PGA Tour winner Wesley Bryan (T-10), fan favourite Harry Higgs (T-13) and reigning NCAA champion Fred Biondi (T-19) among others. Of the other Australians, only Tom Power Horan (two-under, tied for 24th and five shots outside the mark for a top-five finish) is in contention for a full card.
