PGA Tour Q-School First Stage Qualifying preview
05 Oct 2024
by AmateurGolf.com Staff
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Mac McClear of University of Iowa will try and advance in Illinois
With Q-School Prequalifying now in the rearview mirror, dozens of amateurs are going to see the competition tighten as they join exempt professionals and amateurs the First Stage of Q-School. The first four of 13 First Stage qualifiers tee off on Tuesday, October 8, in Arizona, Florida, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. Eight amateurs are spread out across those four locations, including several mid-amateurs who are hoping to gain some type of Tour status while protecting their amateur careers by keeping the (a) behind their names.
Here are the amateurs we will be keeping an eye on this week. You can view information about each qualifier (including scoreboards) by following the links below.
ARIZONA - AK-CHIN SOUTHERN DUNES
October 8-11, 2024
INFO | LIVE SCORING
Preston Bebich (a) - Gig Harbor, WA -- view profile>
Bebich played for Washington State University, enjoying a standout collegiate career with multiple top finishes, including a runner-up at the 2023 Pacific Invitational. He was also named the 2023-24 Pac-12 Men's Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year, highlighting his academic and athletic balance. Bebich has also competed in notable events like the U.S. Amateur, qualifying in 2022.
Mateo Fuenmayor (a) - Beaverton, OR -- view profile>
Fuenmayor, who played for Oregon State, grew as a player by lowering his scoring average substantially during his collegiate career. In 2023/2024 for the Beavers, he fnished with two rounds under par five times: the Husky Invitational, Cal Poly Invitational, Amer Ari Invitational, The Prestige, and the Redhawk Invitational and shot a low round of 66 at The Oregon State Invitational.
Matthew Manganello (a) - Las Vegas, NV -- view profile>
Manganello played for Fresno State, where in 2022/2023 he became the first Bulldog to earn two medalist honors in the same season since Nick Watney in 2002 with wins at the Saint Mary's Invitational and the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate.
FLORIDA 1 - COUNTRY CLUB OF OCALA
October 8-11, 2024
iNFO | LIVE SCORING
Derek Busby (a) - Palm Beach Gardens, FL -- view profile>
Busby is a highly accomplished mid-amateur golfer with multiple notable wins, including the prestigious Gasparilla Invitational played each year in Tampa. He has reached the match play at the U.S. Mid-Amateur multiple times and has consistently performed well in mid-amateur competitions nationwide.
Jules Gentil (a) - Port Saint Lucie, FL -- view profile>
Gentil, who was born and raised in Limoges, France, played collegiately at Charleston Southern University, enjoying a standout freshman year after entering as an AJGA junior golfer.
Kyle Martin (a) - Plant City, FL -- view profile>
Martin, 31, is the second mid-amateur to in the field at CC of Ocala. He finished 12th in the 2024 Florida Amateur, and finished T3 in the Sunshine State Amateur the previous year, competing against a predominantly collegiate field.
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PGA Tour Q-School Prequalifying: A full roundup from all eight sites
NEBRASKA - THE CLUB AT WILDERNESS RIDGE
October 8-11, 2024
INFO | LIVE SCORING
There are no amateurs competing at The Club at Wilderness Ridge, but several recent AmateurGolf.com "alums" we have our eye on include:
Mac McClear - Hinsdale, IL -- view profile
McClear, a standout player at the University of Iowa, has earned numerous accolades, including
back-to-back Illinois State Amateur Championships in 2022 and 2023. He also won the Big Ten Championship twice during his collegiate career, becoming the first player in program history to accomplish the feat. McClear turned pro in 2024 after graduating from Iowa.
OKLAHOMA - INDIAN SPRINGS RIVER COURSE
October 8-11, 2024
INFO | LIVE SCORING
Joe Neuheisel (a) - Scottsdale, AZ -- view profile>Neuheisel is a standout amateur golfer who won the 98th Arizona Amateur Championship in 2022. He also earned high finishes in several other prestigious events, such as a runner-up at the Grapevine Amateur and the Stocker Cup. Neuheisel has been competitive at the national level, including reaching the quarterfinals of the California Amateur.
Ben Partridge (a) - Surrey, UK -- view profile>Partridge is a notable UK-based golfer who played for Hutchinson Community College before transferring to University of San Francisco. A pivotal moment in his career came in the summer of 2023 when he secured the Tillman Trophy, securing full status on the Clutch Pro Tour for 2025. This tour comprises 24 events, culminating in the top 5 players earning a coveted Challenge Tour card