Qualifying for any of the tours that fall under the PGA Tour umbrella has never been easy. With a pre-qualifier, two stages, and a grueling final qualifying in Florida, anyone looking to gain a spot on any of the tours will want to be in top physical and mental shape (and have a good travel agent).
For amateurs, their career choices might hang in the balance of their performance. Without the need to turn into professional golfers, they can see how far they get and decide to turn pro based on the places they may be able to play. We will be tracking the qualifiers very closely this year, starting with all the Pre-Qualifying results from eight locations around the United States.
Alabama Pre-Qualifier (info|results)
Cambrian Ridge - RTJ Trail
September 25-27, 2024
Peter Fountain (70-70-72, T12th)
Fountain, who played his collegiate golf at the Univeristy of North Carolina, has an impressive track record in amateur golf. His notable finishes include reaching the Final 16 at the 2024 U.S. Amateur and securing top 10 finishes at the Augusta Invitational, ACC Championship, and Amer Ari Invitational in 2024. He has also played in the NCAA championship four times, finishing in the top 20 twice.
Grant Leaver (68-75-72, 23rd)
A standout from Centerville, Tennessee, Leaver had a stellar college career at Austin Peay State University, winning five individual titles. Leaver earned first-team All-OVC honors twice and set the program's career low-scoring average (72.8). He finished in the Top 20 in 9 of his 11 senior season events, including a second-place finish at the 2008 OVC Championship, which earned him a spot in the NCAA Regional. After turning professional in 2008 and competing in multiple PGA and Nationwide Tour events, Leaver transitioned to a career as a personal trainer.
Kyle Martin (72-76-68, T24th)
Martin had strong showings in the 2023 Sunshine State Men's Amateur (T3) and the 2024 Florida Amateur (T12). He also qualified for the 2021 U.S. Mid-Amateur, as well as the 2013 U.S. Amateur, as a player for Southeastern University, a NAIA program.
Anthony Garcia (74-73-71, T29th)
Garcia began his collegiate golf career at La Salle University, where he competed at the Division I level before transferring to Barry University, a prestigious Division II program.
Sam Lape (75-73-71,T31st)
Lape started his collegiate golf career at Furman University, where he established himself as a consistent performer before transferring to University of Southern California for his graduate year. Lape has had several notable finishes, including a T13 at the 2024 Wyoming Cowboy Classic and a runner-up finish at the 2023 NCAA East Regional.
Tom Gueant (71-71-77, T31st)
Gueant, a French amateur who played collegiately at the University of Oregon, has notable finishes including reaching the Final 64 in the 2023 British Amateur.
Brock Healy (71-75-74, T35th)
Healy, a graduate of the Kennesaw State Men’s Golf Team, has plenty of top finishes, including a T6 at the 2024 AAC Championship and victories including victories at the 2023 Quail Valley Collegiate and First Coast Amateur.
Soufiane Dahmane (71-77-72, T35th)
Dahmane, a Moroccan amateur, finished T11 at the 2024 French International Amateur Stroke Play and placed T17 at the 2024 African Amateur Championship. He has also competed on the Asian Tour, where he finished 68th at the 2023 Saudi Open.
California Pre-Qualifier (info | results)
Omni La Costa - South
September 25-27, 2024
Dylan Brack (70-70-63, 1st)
Brack, 18 years old, has been steadily climbing the ranks in amateur golf, earning a qualifying spot in the 2024 U.S. Amateur. His notable finishes include a T3 at the Inland Empire Amateur and a solid performance at the California State Open.
Gregory Solhaug (67-72-68, 5th)
Solhaug is a highly-ranked Norwegian amateur who played his college golf at the University of Oregon. Solhaug has had strong performances including a Round of 16 appearance at the 2024 Western Amateur and a 5th place finish at the Pac-12 Championship. In 2023, he reached the Final 32 in both the British Amateur and the U.S. Amateur, and also placed T3 at the Patriot All-America.
Matthew Manganello (72-70-71, T10th)
Manganello, former Fresno State player, has built a strong amateur career, with a Final 64 finish at the 2024 U.S. Amateur and a T3 at the Oregon Duck Invitational. He also secured medalist honors at U.S. Amateur Final Qualifier and a U.S. Open Local Qualfier in 2024.
Mateo Fuenmayor (70-71-72, T10th)
Fuenmayor, former Oregon State golfer, has earned several high finishes, including 3rd place at the 2024 Latin American Amateur and co-medalist honors at the 2023 Oregon Duck Invitational. He is also a medalist from a 2023 U.S. Amateur Final Qualifier and has been a consistent performer at the collegiate and amateur levels.
Christopher Chomyn (71-76-70, T17th)
Chomyn is an emerging player from California, where he plays collegiately at Stanislaus State, a division II program. While also a dominant player in college, Chomyn had strong finishes in the 2024 State Fair Amateur (T4) and Northern Amateur (T7). He also earned medalist honors at a 2023 U.S. Open Local Qualifier.
Preston Bebich (74-72-72, T21st)
Bebich, who plays for Washington State, has posted impressive results in 2023, including a T2 at the Pacific Invitational and a T8 at the John Burns Intercollegiate in 2024.
Rodea (70-71-77, T21st)
Rodea played collegiately at Long Beach State, and has had notable finishes in 2024, including a T10 at the Southern California Open and a T11 at the California State Open. His consistency in the amateur ranks – and success in professional events – has earned him recognition as one of California's top amateurs.
Brian Nielsen (74-73-72, 27th)
Nielsen played collegiately at Cal State San Bernadino.
Winston Wang (70-75-75, T28th)
Kelvin Si (73-72-75, T28th)
Si, a former University of San Diego golfer from Macao, has been a consistent competitor, with a T9 finish at the 2024 El Macero Classic and a top-10 finish at the 2023 Asian Games. He also earned medalist honors at a 2023 U.S. Amateur Final Qualifier.
AJ Fitzgerald (71-80-70, T35th)
AJ Fitzgerald, who played a year of college golf at CSU Monterey Bay, has posted several strong finishes in California amateur events, including runner-up at the San Francisco City Championship and a 2nd place at the Northern California Stroke Play. He also qualified for the U.S. Amateur in 2024.
Texas Qualifier (info|results)
The Bridges Golf Club
Sept. 25-27, 2024
Yuki Bannai (69-75-71, T20th)
Originally from San Juan Capistrano, California, Bannai played his collegiate golf at Pomona-Pitzer, a Division III school. Bannai has found success in his home state, finishing T13 at the 2023 Long Beach Amateur and T7 at the Oceanside City Championship.
Georgia Pre-Qualifier (info|results)
Brunswick Country Club
Sept 18-20, 2024
Bartley Forrester (65-67-62, 1st)
Bartley Forrester has built a strong reputation in amateur golf and in his sucessful career at Georgia Tech. with a standout win at the 2022 Monroe Invitational and a co-victory at The Calusa Cup. He reached the Final 32 of the 2022 U.S. Amateur and secured multiple top-10 finishes, including T8 at the 2024 Amer Ari Invitational, ACC Championship, and NCAA East Regional.
Jake Hall (67-68-69, 8th)
Jake Hall has had an impressive run, with a win at The All-American and the Tennessee State Amateur in 2023. He also placed T4 at the 2024 Cabo Collegiate and T7 at the 2024 SEC Championship, solidifying his place as one of the players in the SEC.
Chanc Willis (69-69-68, T11th)
Chanc Willis played NAIA golf at Reinhardt University in Waleska, Georgia.
Alexandre Vandermoten (67-71-68, T11th)
Alexandre Vandermoten captured the Southeastern Amateur title in 2024 and has been a strong performer in various amateur events, including T12 at the Linger Longer Invitational and T13 at the Florida Gators Invitational.
Gavin Clements (66-69-73, T17th)
Gavin Clements had a breakthrough in 2024, earning medalist honors at the U.S. Open Local Qualifying. He also placed T10 at the Argent Financial Classic and T13 at the Conference USA Championship in 2023.
Kansas Pre-Qualifier (info|results)
Sand Creek Station GC
Sept 18-20, 2024
Vicente Marzilio (74-66-66, 1st)
Vicente Marzilio, from Argentina, has earned multiple top finishes, including 3rd place at the 2023 Latin America Amateur and a Round of 64 finish at the U.S. Amateur. He also placed 3rd in the Conference USA Championship and qualified for the U.S. Amateur Final in both 2023 and 2024.
Jules Gentil (72-68-74, T9th)
Jules Gentil played his freshman year at Charleston Southern, where he had a strong debut season. While his recent tournament data is unavailable, his performance at the Kansas pre-qualifier reflects his competitive abilities.
Ben Partridge (78-70-71, T21st)
Ben Partridge has a number of strong finishes in collegiate and amateur events, including a win at the Tillman Trophy and a T3 at the General Hackler Collegiate. He also placed 10th at the 2023 West Coast Conference Championship.
Ohio Pre-Qualifier (info|results)
Mayfield Sand Ridge GC
Sept 18-20, 2024
Jimmy Meyers (70-73-70, T14th)
Jimmy Meyers has consistently performed well in amateur golf, with a notable 2nd place finish at the 2023 National Golf Invitational and a T7 at the Quail Valley Collegiate. He has also placed T10 at the 2024 Seahawk Intercollegiate and T19 at the Big Ten Championship.
Nathan Piatt (71-74-71, T25th)
Nathan Piatt has shown solid results in regional events, finishing 6th at the 2023 Eastern Amateur and securing a runner-up finish at the 2022 Pennsylvania Amateur.
Jeg Coughlin III (74-71-74, T33rd)
Jeg Coughlin III played collegiate golf for Ohio State University and earned medalist honors at both the 2023 U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifying and U.S. Open Local Qualifying.
Illinois Pre-Qualifier (info|results)
Bull Valley GC
Sept 11-13, 2024
Jerry Ji (72-71-74, T4th)
Jerry Ji, from the Netherlands, has achieved notable finishes such as T12 at the 2024 St. Andrews Links Trophy and T7 at the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate. His strong 2023 season included an 11th place finish at the St. Andrews Links Trophy and a top-10 finish at the Purdue Fall Invitational.
Jianyou Piao (74-77-74, T24th)
Jianyou Piao played collegiate golf at Rollins College, a Division II school.
North Carolina Pre-Qualifier (info|results)
The Club at Irish Creek
Sept 11-13, 2024
No amateurs qualified for KFT first stage in North Carolina. But recent Univ. of Tennessee at Chattanooga grad Samuel Espinosa-Trueba blitzed the field, taking the medalist spot at 18-under after firing a 10-under 61 in the second round.