Renner Wins Web.com Q-School Final Stage; Polland Can't Overcome Triple

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. -- Jim Renner, a 33-year-old veteran of myriad professional golf tours, blistered the Crooked Cat course at Orange County National on Sunday with a 9-under-par 63 in the final round of the Final Stage of Web.com Q-School. And with that, he turned a three-stroke deficit at the start of the day into a three-stroke victory.

He concluded the Final Stage with a total of 269 (17 under) over four rounds at the Crooked Cat (par 72) and Panther Lake (par 71) courses. Taylor Moore, 23, who graduated from the University of Arkansas this spring, had the next-best score of the day -- and week -- a 65 (also at Crooked Cat), and that propelled him into second place at 272. Vince India, a former Iowa star, shot 66 and finished third with a 273.   

The victory was worth $25,000 to Renner. But more important than that, it gives Renner a full exemption for the entire 2017 Web.com season. Moore, India and everyone else who finished in the top 10 (and ties) got $15,000 and will be fully exempt for at least 12 events next year, through the third re-shuffle. Those who finished in the top 45 (and ties) will be fully exempt through the second re-shuffle (eight events)..   

This was hardly Renner's first time at Q-School. He's been there eight times, beginning with the old PGA Tour Q-School, which he got through (tying for 22) in 2010. But he was back there a year later, after losing his exempt status. 

Renner is from Plainville, Mass., and he started his college career at Oklahoma. That didn't work out. So he transferred to Johnson & Wales University, a Division III school in Florida, and won the individual medal at the 2005 NAIA Championship. He turned pro in 2007 and won four state opens in the next two years -- Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont and Maine -- along with one tournament on the then-Hooters Tour. He won again on the Hooters Tour in 2010, before getting through Q-School to the PGA Tour. 

After he lost his PGA Tour status at the end of 2011, he spent two years on the Web.com Tour, and he played his way back onto the Big Tour by finishing in the top 25 on the Web.com money list in 2013. In early 2014, he finished second to Jimmy Walker at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, his best finish on the PGA Tour.

Renner dropped out of the top 125 on the PGA Tour money list the next year and lost his exempt status once again. As a result, he spent 2016 on the Web.com Tour, but made only seven of 19 cuts, which was good for $54,331. That put him at No. 84 on the money list, and only the top 75 retain full Web.com status.

That's why Renner was back at Q-School last week. 

He started Sunday's final round tied for third, comfortably within the top 10, but he said afterward that he knew he would need "a pretty good number" to stay there.

"Obviously, I wasn't really picturing 9 under."

At least not to begin with. Then he birdied four of the first five holes. He capped off a front-nine 31 at Crooked Cat with a birdie at the 400-yard, par-4 ninth. Suddenly, he was at the top of the leader board. Renner took sole possession of the first place with an eagle at the 529-yard, par-5 14th, and he secured medalist honors with birdies at the 454-yard, par-4 16th and the 458-yard, par-4 18th.

The ultimate goal for Renner, as it is for all of the guys who made it through Q-School this year, is to finish 2017 in the top 25 on the Web.com money list. That would translate into a promotion to the PGA Tour in 2018. 

Moore's front nine on Sunday had a little bit of everything -- three birdies, an eagle, two bogeys and three pars. He steadied the ship with four pars to start the back nine, and then made his push to the runner-up spot with four birdies over the last five holes.

India, 27, who was the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2011, was also working his way up. He made three birdies and no bogeys on the front side at Crooked Cat, for a 33, then went bogey-birdie-par to start the back nine and added four more birdies and a bogey on his way in.

Two other former Big Ten stars -- Dan Woltman (Wisconsin) and Matt Harmon (Michigan State) -- finished in the top 10. Woltman, a 30-year-old from Beaver Dam, Wis., was tied for first at the beginning of the final round, and the former Badger All-American was only one behind Renner with nine to play. But he made five bogeys on the back nine, and only two birdies to offset them. That worked out to a 74, which put him at 277, in a tie for eighth. 

Harmon, 31, is another former Big Ten Player of the Year (2007). He was in the top 10 for almost the entire Final Stage -- until he went 3 over in an eight-hole span on Sunay. But he rallied with three birdies in his last five holes to post a 70 and get into the six-way tie for eighth at 277. 

The only player with strong ties to Minnesota in the Final Stage was Ben Polland, 26, a Bloomington Jefferson graduate who has developed into one of the top club pros in the country. An assistant at Deepdale GC in Manhasset, N.Y. He finished second in the 2015 National Cub Pro Championship and won the National Assistant Club Pro Championship six weeks ago. 

Polland started off well enough at Orange County National, putting together a 69 in the opening round. But a 73 on Day 2 knocked him out of the top 45. Saturday was a tough day to score, and his 72 kept him within striking range of the top 45, in a tie for 52nd.

On Sunday, he played Crooked Cat and made a triple bogey on his first hole, the 459-yard 10th, which put him in a deep hole. He might have dug himself out of it, because he made six birdies, but he also made three bogeys, and they were the difference. The former Fighting Camel from Campbell University wound up with a 72, which gave him an aggregate of 286, tied for 72nd place -- but he was only three strokes out of an 11-way tie for 42nd.

Because he made it to the Final Stage of Q-School, Polland will have limited status on the Web.com next year, but he's unlikely to get into more than a couple of tournaments.   


Web.com Q-School  (through the first two of three stages)

Final Stage (72 holes)

Winter Garden Fa. 

Dec. 8-11

At Orange County National 

Crooked Cat (par 72, 7,493 yards) 

Panther Lake (par 71, 7,350 yards)

Final results

(The medalist will be fully exempt for the Web.com Tour for the entire 2017 season. Those finishing No 2 through No. 10 & ties will be exempt through the third reshuffle (12 events), and those finishing No. 11 through No 45 & ties will be exempt through the second reshuffle (8 events). Those finishing out of the top 45 will have limited status.)

1. Jim Renner, Boston                            $25,000     68-69-69-63-269

2. Taylor Moore, Edmond, Okla.             $15,000     69-67-71-65--272

3. Viince India, Deerfield, Ill.                   $15,000     71-66-70-66--273

T4. Brock Mackenzie, Yakama, Wash.   $15,000     69-68-69-68--274

T4. Puma Dominguez, Argentina           $15,000      66-67-70-71--274

T8.Dan Woltman, Beaver Dam, Wis.   $15,000      66-67-70-74--277

What it took to make top 10 -- 277 (6-way tie for 8th)

What it took to make top 45 -- 283 (11-way tie for 42nd)

T72. Ben Polland, Bloomington                            69-73-72-72--286 



Second Stage (72 holes)

Plantation, Fla. 

Nov. 8-11

At Plantation Preserve Golf Course & Club

Par 71

Final  results 

The top 18 finishers and ties advance to the Web.com Tour Q-School Finals, Dec. 8-11 in Winter Garden, Fla.  

1. Lanto Griffin, Blacksburg, Va.         68-69-69-64--270

2. Ben Taylor, Champions Grove        69-67-69-67--272

T3. Jesse Larson, Mendon, Vermont  69-66-70-68--273

T3. Tain Lee, Irivine, Calif.                   70-66-71-66--273

5. Chase Marinell, Cape Coral, Fla.     69-67-71-67--274

T18. Ben Polland, Manhassett., N.Y. 67-68-73-70--278

Magic Number through 54 holes: 278 (3-way tie for 18th)


Brooksville, Fla.  

Nov 8-11

Southern Hills Plantation Club 

Par 72

Final results

The top 18 finishers and ties advance

1. Justin Hueber, Jacksonville, Fla.   70-63-71-70--274

T2. Michael Johnson, Birmingham, Ala. 69-69-72-67--277

T2. Seth Reeves, Suwanee, Ga.            72-69-67-69--277

T2. Ken Looper, Mandeville, La.            71-67-69-70--277

What it took: 282 (7-way tie for 18th) 

T41. Donald Constable, Minnetonka   69-73-70-75--287

T64. Cam White, Wayzata                    74-69-76-74--293 


Mobile, Ala.

Nov. 1-4

At RTJ Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove-Crossings

Par 72

Final results 

The top 19 finishers at ties advance

1. Carter Jenkins, Raleigh, N.C.          70-70-67-63--270

T2. Michael Herbert, Atlanta                67-70-67-67--271

T2. Carlos Ortiz, Addison, Teas            68-70-67-66--271

T2. Jonathan Hodge, Jasper, Tenn.     69-67-68-67--271

What it took: 277 (Solo 19th)

T50. Neil Johnson, River Falls          70-68-75-73--286


Beaumont, Calif. 

Nov. 1-4

At Oak Valley GC

Par 72

Final results

The top 19 finishers and tied advance

1. Andrew Yun, Chandler, Ariz.            62-69-72-64--267

2. Seann Harlingten, Canada              67-67-68=69--271

3. Colin Featherstone, Fallbrook, Ga. 65-69-72-67--273

What it took: 280 (6-way tie for 17th) 

T24. Andre Metzger, Sioux Falls     69-67-69-78--283

T58. Ben Welle, Moorhead              71-75-72-72--290


First Stage (72 holes) 

St. George, Utah 

Oct. Oct. 11-14

At SunRiver Golf Club

Par 71

Final results 

Top 24 finishers and ties advance to the Second Stage of qualifying, which begins Nov. 1 at various sites

1. John Chin, Temecula, Calif.                   64-64-70-62--260

T2. Donald Constable, Deephaven         69-63-65-64--261

T2. David Bradshaw, Encinitas, Calif.        65-66-64-66--261

T4. Alex Kim, Fullerton, Calif.                     64-66-63-69--262

T4. Austin Graham, Ladera Ranch, Calif.  68-62-65-67--202

T13. Ben Polland, Manhasset, N.Y.          64-69-66-67--266

What it took: 269 (6-way tie for 20th)

T48. Sam Matthew, Roseville                   72-69-71-67--279

T50. Chris Meyer, Edina                           70-72-70--68--280

71. Rodney Hamblin, White Bear T'ship 70-77-74-75--296



Pine Mountain, Ga. 

Oct. 11-14

At Callaway Gardens

Par 72

Final results  

The top 25 and ties advance

T1. Blake Sattler, New Philadelphia, Ohio  71-74-68-64--277

T1. Seth Reeves, Suwanee, Ga.                 68-66-72-71--277

T1. Ben Kohles, Reston, Va.                        67-69-70-71--277

T1. Charlie Martin, Lagrange, Ga.               70-70-69-68--277

T1. Joey Garber, Vero Beach, Fla.              70-69-70-68--277

What it took: 284 (5-way tie for 25th)

T30. Bronson La'Cassie, Australia          75-70-70-70--285



The Woodlands, Texas

Oct. 11-14

The Woodlands - Tournament Course

Par 70

Final results 

The top 25 and ties will advance

1. Bill Kennedy, Alpharetta, Ga.              70-68-65-69--272

2. Conrad Shindler, Dallas                      68-69-70-66--273

3. Roman Roblado, Hartengen, Texas    69-69-68-68--274

What it took: 285 (4-way tie for 25th)

T62. Derek Chang, Dallas                     70-76-76-72--294



Nebraska City, Neb. 

Oct. Oct. 4-7

At Arbor Links

Par 72

Final results 

Top 25 and ties advance to the Second Stage of qualifying, which begins Nov. 1 at various sites

1. Matt Ryan, Huntersville, N.C.       69-70-71-67--274

2. T.J. Mitchell, St. Simons Island, Ga.  69-66-71-69--275

3. Andrew Ruthkoski, Muskegpn, Mich. 72-68-66-71--277

4. Jeremy Paul (a), Boulder, Colo.    67-68-73-70--278

T16. Cam White, Wayzata               67-72-72-71--282

What it took:  283 (3-way tie for 25th)

T31. Thomas Campbell, Hopkins    71-72-72-70--285

T58. Casey Vangsness, Alexandria 69-74-72-76--291


Maricopa, Ariz. 

Oct. 4-7

At Southern Dunes Golf Club

Par 72

Final results 

Top 25 and ties advance

1. Chris Thompson, Lawrence, Kansas    64-65-65-72--266

2. Max Marsico, Las Vegas                         66-69-69-67--271

T3. Jass Janewattananond, Thailand         68-65-71-69--273

T3. Derek Lahti-Barron, Lakewood, Wash. 68-68-65-72--273

T24. Ben Welle, Moorhead                         69-70-71-70--280

T24. Andre Metzger, Sioux Falls               70-71-67-72--280

What it took: 280 (3-way tie for 24th)


Dayton, Nevada

Sept. 27-30

At Dayton Valley Golf Club

Par 72

Final results

Top 24 and ties advance

1. David Fanegas, Colombia                 67-64-67-69--267

2. Gavin Green, Malaysia                       66-64-72-68--270

3. Trevor Simsby, Carlsbad, Calif.         68-69-66-69--272

T21. Neil Johnson, River Falls             68-69-68-76--281

What it took: 282 (24th place, no ties)

T32. Clayton Rask, Elk River                74-69-70-72--285

T36. Robert Bell, Pierz                           75-70-70-71--286


Lakeland, Fla. 

Oct. 4-6

At Grasslands Golf & Country Club

Par 72

Final results

Top 25 and ties advance

T1.  T.J. Vogel, Jacksonville Beach, Fla.    70-66-66-68--270

T1. Kent Bulle, Nashville                             66-67-70-67--270

T1. Doug Letson, Tampa                             66-67-68-69--270

What it took: 280 (7-way tie for 21st)

T68. Hudson Carpenter, Stillwater            73-73-73-75--294



Pre-Qualifying Stage (54 holes)

Lincoln, Neb. 

Aug. 31-Sept. 2

At Wilderness  Ridge Golf Club

Par 71

Final results 

Top 38 and ties advance to First Stage

1. Nate Yankovich, Blacklick, Ohio          63-72-65---205

2. Jordan Payne, West Memphis, Ariz.   70-65-72--207

T3. Zach Zaback, Farmington, Conn.     70-72-66--208

T3. Joe Migdal, Ballwin, Missouri           67-72-69--208

T3. Chase Wilson, Zanesville, Ohio        68-70-70--208

6. Ben Welle, Moorhead                       69-71-69--209

T12. Hudson Carpenter, Stillwater     70-69-73--212

T25. Casey Vangsness, Alexandria   71-73-71--215

What it took: 217 (3-way tie for 36th)

T66. Jack Elliott, Fargo                       80-74-74--22


Spring, Texas

Aug. 31-Sept. 2

At Cpyresswood Golf Club - Tradition

Par 72

Final results 

Top 38 and ties advance

1. Will Cannon, Birmingham. Ala.   69-68-66--203

2. Derek Oland, McKinney, Texas    66-71-67--204

T3. Justin McKay, Crosby, Texas     70-68-68--206

T3. Nathaniel James, Fort Worth      69-65-72--206

T33. Sam Matthew, Roseville            74-70-73--217

What it took: 218 (5-way tie for 38th)


St. Augustine, Fla.

Sept. 7-9

At St. John's Golf & Country Club 

Par 72

Final results 

Top 39 and ties advance

1. Mark Murphy, Jupiter, Fla.              64-71-71--206

2. Anthony Maccaglia, Tampa, Fla.    70-68-70--208

What it took: 221 (6-way tie for 37th)

T43. Kyle Scanlon, Stillwater           80-75-67--222