Pivotal Final Round Awaits

All three Coloradans competing in the Web.com Tour first-stage tournament in Lantana, Texas are in good position to advance to stage 2 of the three-stage qualifying process.

With the top 24 finishers and ties following Friday’s final round moving on to the second stage, Jim Knous of Englewood shares eighth place while Zahkai Brown of Arvada is 17th and Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch 23rd.

Knous (pictured) made five birdies and shot a 4-under-par 68 on Thursday, leaving him at 12-under 204 heading into the final round. Brown, winner of the 2013 Colorado Open, checked in at 209 after a third-round 70. And two-time Colorado Open champ Tolan carded five birdies en route to a 69, leaving him at 210.

Coloradans Gunner Wiebe and Nick Mason advanced to the second stage of Q-school at first-stage tournaments last week.

Five more first-stage tourneys will be held next week.

Here are the results of players with strong Colorado connections at Q-school tournaments that started on Tuesday:

Lantana, Texas (top 24 finishers and ties advance to second stage)
8. Former School of Mines golfer Jim Knous of Englewood 67-69-68–204
17. Former CSU golfer Zahkai Brown of Arvada 70-69-70–209
23. Former CU golfer Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch 71-70-69–210

Maricopa, Ariz. (top 25 finishers and ties advance to second stage)
27. Nick Hodge of Littleton 72-69-69–210
61. Dustin Mills of Broomfield 75-73-71–219

Nebraska City (top 25 finishers and ties advance to second stage)
1. CU golfer Jeremy Paul 67-68–135
6. Former CU golfer Justin Bardgett 67-70–137
11. Former CU golfer David Oraee of Greeley 69-69–138
11. Former CU golfer Josh Creel 66-72–138
26. Former CSU golfer Parker Edens of Greeley 70-71–141
26. Former CU golfer Beau Schoolcraft of Denver 73-68–141
37. Miller Capps of Denver 72-71–143
46. Former CSU golfer Cameron Harrell of Colorado Springs 73-71–144
66. Former Coloradan Alex Gutesha 73-74–147