Locals Advance to Q-School Final
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (November 8, 2019) -- A number of players with Met Area ties logged top finishes in second stage of Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School, earning their way to the Dec. 12-15 Finals that take place at Orange County National in Winter Garden, Fla.
Related: Korn Ferry Tour Q-School Results
Southbury, Conn., native and 2014 Met Junior runner-up John VanDerLaan put on an impressive performance at Southern Hills Plantation in Brooksville, Fla., shooting 23-under 265 to top the field by eight shots. VanDerLaan, the 2018 Connecticut State Open champion, is making his second consecutive appearance at the Final stage of Korn Ferry Tour Q-School, having also advanced from Southern Hills Plantation in 2018.
Brandon Wu of Scarsdale, N.Y., also logged a top finish, tying for top honors at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murietta, Calif. Wu, is looking to keep his incredible year going following a national title in his senior year at Stanford, appearances in both the U.S. Open and Open Championship, and a team victory for the U.S. in the Walker Cup. Wu and Jordan Niebrugge separated themselves from the field, firing 17-under-par totals. Their next closest competitor finished at 9-under-par. Former MGA/MetLife Boys champion Theo Humphrey of Greenwich, Conn., also advanced from Murietta, shooting 5-under-par for an eighth place finish.
Meanwhile, 2017 MGA Player of the Year James Nicholas of Scarsdale, N.Y., was successful in his first attempt at Q-School, advancing from Highland Oaks in Dothan, Ala., behind a 9-under total. Nicholas finished eighth at the site, where he closed strong with a 5-under 67.
Finally, reigning PGA Professional Championship winner Alex Beach of Stamford, Conn., led a trio of Met Area players to advance from Plantation Preserve in Plantation, Fla. The Westchester Country Club assistant fired a final day 67 to post 12-under and finish in sixth place. Past Met Amateur champion Ryan McCormick of Middletown, N.J., and Staten Island, N.Y., native Sean Kelly also advanced, finishing tied 13th and 20th, respectively, to earn their spots in the Finals.
Players who advance to Final Stage are assured a Korn Ferry Tour card for the following season, with Final Stage results determining how players are ordered on early-season field lists.