web.com Q-School Final Stage: Fritsch 5 Clear after 5 Rounds; Schnell Moves up with a 66

December 16, 2014 | 3 min.


PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Afer making birdies in bunches for 3 1/2 rounds in the Final Stage of web.com Tour Qualifying, Brad Fritsch failed to make a birdie Monday afternoon on the back nine at PGA National's Fazio Course. No matter. The 37-year-old mini-tour veteran from Ottawa, Canada -- who finally made it to the PGA Tour two years ago, but lost his exempt status this year when he finished No. 151 on the money list -- stll managed to shoot a 2-under-par 70, which gave him a 90-hole total of 336 and a five-stroke lead going into Tuesday's final round.

Andrew Landry, the former All-American at Arkansas, produced his third 67 in a four-day span, and he's alone in second place at 341. Rhein Gibson vaulted into a tie for third at 343, thanks to a 65. He's tied with Matt Fast, who shot 68.

For most of the players in the 150-man field at the new version of Q-School (the old PGA Tour Q-School ceased to exist after 2012), the goal is to finish in the top 45 and gain fully exempt status for at least the first part of the 2015 web.com schedule.

Fritsch, on the other hand, is in a position to earn fully exempt status for all of next year, not to mention $25,000. Those are the rewards for being the medalist in this 108-hole test of skills, nerves and endurance.

Gibson's efforts so far show how much upward mobility low scores can provide. He was tied for 78th after two rounds, with a 144, but he's risen 75 places on the strength of two 67's and a 65. (Gibson, incidentally, is listed by the Guiness World Record people as having shot the lowest round ever produced on a legitimate golf course, a 16-under 55 at River Oaks in Edmund, Okla., in May of 2012.)

Also making a big move in the right direction on Monday was Brady Schnell, the former leading money-winner on the Dakotas Tour. He turned in a 66 at Fazio and jumped 40 places into a tie for 28th at 350.

Josh Persons, the University of Minnesota alumnus who finished second to Schnell on the 2008 Dakotas Tour money list, could use about a 65 on Tuesday. He had a 71 on Day 5 at the other course being used for this tournament -- Champion -- and is tied for 79th at 356, five strokes out of the top 45. Persons will play the par-72 Fazio Course for his final round. Fritsch, Landry, Gibson, Fast and Schnell will play the par-71 Champion Course.      

web.com Qualifying

Final Stage (108 holes)

At PGA National

Fazio Course, par 72, 7,050 yards

Champion Course, par 71, 7,045 yards

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. 

(The medalist will be fully exempt for the  entire 2015 web.com Tour schedule. Those who finish No. 2 through 10 will be exempt until the third re-shuffle, and those who finish 11 through 45 (and ties) will be exempt until the second reshuffle. Anyone who made it to the Final Stage will be at least partially exempt for the web.com Tour next year.)

Fifth-round results 


1. Brad Fritsch (Fazio)                 72-64-65-65-70--336 (-22)

2. Andrew Landry (Fazio)              71-67-67-69-67--341 (-17)

T3. Rhein Gibson (Fazio)              70-74-67-67-65--343 (-15)

T3. Matt Fast (Fazio)                    67-69-67-72-68--343 (-15) 

T28. Brady Schnell (Fazio)          70-71-70-73-66--350 (-8) 

Magic Number for top 45 after 90 holes -- 351 (6-way tie for 40th)

T79. Josh Persons (Champion)   73-71-71-70-71--356 (-1)  


 

Contact Us

Contact Us

6550 York Avenue South, Suite 411 • Edina, MN 55435 • (952) 927-4643 • (800) 642-4405 • Fax: (952) 927-9642
© 2024 Minnesota Golf Association. All Rights Reserved