Constable Has More than Enough Margin for Error in 2nd Stage of Q-School

Donald Constable shot 66-69-66--201 at the Southern Hills Plantation Club in Brooksville, Fla., during the first three rounds of the Second Stage of Web.com Tour Qualifying. That gave him considerable margin for error in the final round, which was a good thing, because on Friday the former Minnesota State Amateur champion from Minnetonka posted his worst score of the week by six strokes (75) -- and still made it through to the Final Stage of Q-School with four shots to spare. 

Jimmy Stranger, a former University of Virginia All-American from Tampa, Fla., came from three behind on Day 4 with a 5-under-par 67 to earn medalist honors with a 72-hole total of 270. Grant Leaver shot 70 and finished second with a 271, and former Iowa star Vince India was third at 272, after a closing 72. 

The top 20 finishers and ties from Brooksville advanced to the Final Stage of Q-School, which will be played Dec. 7-10 in Chandler, Ariz., at the Whirlwind Golf Club's two courses: Devils Claw and The Cattail. Although anyone who gets that far will have some status next year on the Web.com Tour, the top 45 and ties will be fully exempt at the beginning of the schedule. The higher you finish, the further into the season your exempt status will be guaranteed to last, and the medalist will be fully exempt all year. 

But in the earlier stages (Pre-Qualifying, First Stage and Second), it doesn't really matter where you finish, as long as you advance. Which Constable did fairly comfortably, despite making four bogeys and only one birdie on Friday at Southern Hills. His 75 gave him an aggregate of 276, and he tied for sixth. The Magic Number was 280 (8 under), which was where four players ended up, in tie for 18th place. 

There were Second Stage qualifiers at two other sites this week, following the two that were held last week. No other Minnesotans survived, but Ben Polland just missed. A former No. 1 player at Bloomington Jefferson (he tied for eighth in the Class AAA portion of the 2008 state high school tournament), Polland is now an assistant pro in New York. Playing the Plantation Preserve Golf Course & Club in Plantation, Fla., he opened with a 64 and was the first-round leader. But he closed with a 74, which put him at 278 for 72 holes, and that was one too many. He tied for 23rd. Four players tied for 19th at 277.


Second Stage of Web.com Qualifying 

Nov. 7-10

Brooksville, Fla. 

At Southern Hills Plantation

Par 72

Final results (the top 20 and ties advance to the Final State of Q-School, Dec. 7-10 at Whirlwind Golf Club in Chandler, Ariz.)

1. Jimmy Stranger, Tampa, Fla.             68-68-67-67--270

2. Grand Leaver, Murfreesboro, Tenn.  69-64-68-70--271

3. Vince India, Deerfield, Ill.                   65-65-70-72--272

4. Jack Maguire, St. Petersburg, Fla.    70-72-68-64--274

5. Bo Hoag, Columbus, Ohio                 72-70-67-66--275

T6. Donald Constable, Minnetonka    66-69-66-75--276

What it took: 280 (4-way tie for 18th) 


Plantation, Fla. 

Nov. 7-10

At Plantation Preserve Golf Course & Club

Par 71

Final results (the top 20 and ties advance to the Final Stage)

T1. Joey Garber, Vero Beach, Fla.       70-68-67-66--271

T1. Sean Kelly, Bradenton, Fla.            70-68-65-68--271

T1. Daniel Mazziotta, Ft. Myers, Fla.    65-70-67-69--271

4. Steven Ihm, Peoria, Ill.                     67-67-67-71--272

What it took: 277 (4-way tie for 19th)

T23. Ben Polland, Bloomington        64-71-69-74--278

T58. Hudson Carpenter, Stillwater    69-75-70-73--287

  
Murieta, Calif. 

Oct. 31-Nov. 3

At Bear Creek Golf Club

Par 72

Final results (the top 20 and ties advanced)

1. Wyndham Clark, Las Vegas                  66-66-69-70--271

T2. Cameron Davis, Issaquah, Wash.       68-70-72-65--275

T2. John Oda, Henderson, N.Y.                 70-70-70-65--275

T2. Brett Lederer, Lakewood, Calif.           72-66-72-67--277

T6. Andre Metzger, Sioux Falls              67-70-72-69--278

What it took: 284 (3-way tie for 20th)

T34. Neil Johnson, River Falls               76-69-70-72--287

T58. Jon DuToit, Chaska                         71-77-72-75--295


Dothan, Ala. 

Oct. 31-Nov. 3

At Highland Oakw

Par 72

Final results  (the top 19 and ties advanced

1. Andrew Novak, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.    69-66-68-68--271

2. (A) Joaquin Niemann, Chile              67-71-69-67--274

3. Jordan Russel, Bryan, Texas             71-68-68-69--276

T4. Carter Jenkins, Raleigh, N.C.          69-71-68-69--277

T4. Chase Parker, Augusta, Ga.            69-68-72-68--277

What it took: 285 (3-way tie for 19th)

T36. Jon Trasamar, Blue Earth             74-73-74-69--290