2nd Stage web.com Q-School: Simsby 5 Ahead after Round 3: White 3 over the Number

MURRIETA, Calif. -- Trevor Simsby isn't British, and he isn't a spy, contrary to the way his name sounds. He's a 22-year-old former University of Washington star who was the medalist in one of the web.com Tour Q-School pre-qualifiers in September, and could be the medalist again in the Second Stage of qualifying.

On Thursday, he put together a 4-under-par 68 at Bear Creek Golf Club and established a five-stroke lead with a 54-hole total of 205. Chris Nagel is second, and it's another two shots back to the two players who are tied for third at 212 -- Anthony Paolucci and Drew Scott.

This is one of three Second Stage qualifiers taking place this week. There were also three last week. The top 18 finishers -- and ties -- from Bear Creek will advance to the Final Stage of Q-School, a 108-hole ordeal that will be contested Dec. 11-16 on the Fazio and Champion courses at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. From there, the top 45 will all be fully exempt for at least the first part of the web.com schedule in 2015. If the Murrieta qualifier had ended Thursday, it would have taken a score of 217 (nine-way tie for 18th) or better to make the Final Stage.

Which means that University of Minnesota alumnus Cameron White will almost certainly need something under par -- and maybe something in the 60's -- on Friday in order to advance. He is currently tied for 37th at 220, after a third-round 72.

White has moved up significantly in the last two days. He started off with a 78 on Tuesday, but came back with a 70 on Wednesday that included an eagle and three birdies in a span of four holes. Having made no birdies in the first round, he's made seven since then, plus an eagle, but he's made four double bogeys in three days, beginning with two doubles on par-5's on Day 1. (Even though the long-hitting former Wayzata High School star should be able to reach all of the par-5's at Bear Creek in two -- the longest of them is 553 yards -- he's 1 over par on the 5's for the week. By comparison, Simsby is 5 under on those holes.) If White had limited the damage to nothing worse than a bogey on any hole so far, he'd already be in the top 18 (tied for 17th at 216) going into the final round.         

web.com Qualifying 

Second Stage (at various sites)

At Murrieta, Calif. 

Bear Creek Golf Club 

Par 72, 7,157 yards

The top 18 finishers -- plus ties -- will advance to the Final Stage, Dec. 11-16 at PGA National (Champion and Fazio courses) in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. 

Third-round results 

1. Trevor Simsby, Carlsbad, Calif.                        67-70-68--205

2. Chris Naegel, Chesterfield, Mo.                        66-70-74--210

T3. Anthony Paolucci, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.     65-74-73--212

T3. Drew Scott, Henderson, Nev.                         70-69-73--212

Magic Number after 54 holes -- 217 (9-way tie for 18th) 

T37. Cameron White, Wayzata                           78-70-72--220