NGA Hooters Tour: Seath Lauer improves on Day 2

Former Lakewood Ranch High and Florida State University standout Seath Lauer fired a solid 2-under par 70 in the second round of the NGA Hooters Tour's Killearn Country Club Classic in Tallahassee.

However, Lauer opened with a 78 and doesn't appear like he'll make the halfway cut, reserved for the top 65 and ties.

Currently, Lauer is tied for 139th place with golfers still remaining on the course.

Lakewood Ranch resident Adam Hogue also is in danger of missing the cut as he sits tied for 144th following a 149 total through two of the four rounds.

PGA Tour Q-School: Couple locals on verge to advance

Two Bradenton Prep alums, Byeong-Hun An and Arnond "Bank" Vongvanij, are on the verge of making through the first stage of PGA Tour Q-School.

Vongvanij sits with a 206 total, good for a tie for fourth, with one round to go at PGA Golf Club's Wanamaker Course in Port St. Lucie.

An, the 2009 U.S. Amateur champ, is also in Port St. Lucie and is tied for 12th place following a 209 total.

The top 22 and ties progress to the second stage held at multiple venues in mid-November.

Meanwhile, former Lakewood Ranch High and Florida State University star Seath Lauer has faded following a solid opening round.

Lauer fired a first-round 71, but ballooned to a 79 on Day Two. A third round 73 means Lauer, who went all the way to the final stage from pre-qualification last year in his first-ever Q-School attempt, is tied for 65th.

Part-time Palmetto resident Sam Osborne has recovered from his opening round disaster. Osborne carded a 79 in that round, but has since posted back-to-back under par rounds (68-70) and is 1-over for the event.

That score puts him six shots behind the current cut line for advancement.

The final round is Saturday.

On Thursday, the other Florida site - St. John's Golf & Country Club in St. Augustine - concluded with one West Florida Golf Tour player missing by six shots.

Valrico resident Matthew Galloway played consistent golf, but it wasn't good enough. Galloway's worst round in the 72-hole tournament was his first round 72. From there, he carded rounds of 71, 70 and 71 for a 4-under par 284 total.

Players at 10-under par 278 or lower cracked the top 22 (and ties) needed to progress.

PGA Tour Q-School: First Stage update

Logo provided by the West Florida Golf Tour

Several West Florida Golf Tour and other area players are playing their first stage of PGA Tour Q-School this week at two Florida venues.

Here's how they've fared thus far in the 72-hole tournament:

St. John's Golf and Country Club, St. Augustine

Matthew Galloway has been consistent through two rounds with a 72 and 71. However, that's only put the Valrico resident in a tie for 34th. The top 22 and ties advance to the second stage held in mid-November.

PGA Golf Club (Wanamaker Course), Port St. Lucie

Arnond "Bank" Vongvanij leads area hopefuls following the first round on the east coast. The former Bradenton Prep and University of Florida standout fired a 67 and is tied for fourth place.

Seath Lauer, who played at Lakewood Ranch High and Florida State University, sits just outside the top 22 needed to progress. He's tied for 28th place following a 1-under par 71.

Byeong-Hun An struggled on Wednesday. The former U.S. Amateur champion, who attended Bradenton Prep, is tied for 44th after a 73.

Part-time Palmetto resident Sam Osborne also struggled in the opening round. The Englishman posted a 79, and is tied for 73rd in the 77-player field.

Lakewood Ranch's Seath Lauer eGolf Tour third round UPDATE

Seath Lauer's third round in the eGolf Professional Tour's Donald Ross Championship, didn't complete play on Friday.

Thunderstorms suspended play, which is scheduled to resume early Saturday morning.

The former Lakewood Ranch High and Florida State University standout birdied five holes en route to a 1-under par 70 to make the cut following Thursday's second round.

The field was trimmed down to the top 83 players.

Daniel Stone, a West Florida Golf Tour participant like Lauer, also made the cut. He backed up with a 1-over par 72 on day two, but the strength of his opening round 65 got him through for the last two rounds.

In the third round, Stone is tied for 14th place through 13 holes. He stands at 3-under par for his third round.

Meanwhile, Lauer is tied for 71st at 2-under par for the tournament. He's through 10 holes.

Seath Lauer makes cut in Donald Ross Championship

Playing the Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club course in the eGolf Professional Tour's Donald Ross Championship second round, former Lakewood Ranch High and Florida State University standout Seath Lauer birdied five holes en route to a 1-under par 70.

The round yielded a made cut for Lauer, as the field was trimmed down to the top 83 players.

Lauer only had two bogeys, but also double-bogeyed No. 2 during his second round.

Daniel Stone, a West Florida Golf Tour participant like Lauer, also made the cut. He backed up with a 1-over par 72, but the strength of his opening round 65 got him through for the last two rounds.

The third round is currently underway at the North Carolina venue. Check back here later for further updates.

Seath Lauer opens well at eGolf Professional Tour

Seath Lauer during a 2010 West Florida Golf Tour event. Photo by Paul Videla/Bradenton Herald

Bradenton’s Seath Lauer, who had a standout prep and collegiate career at Lakewood Ranch and Florida State University, is playing this week’s eGolf Professional Tour’s Donald Ross Championship in North Carolina.

Lauer carded a 2-under par 69 in Wednesday’s opening round of the 72-hole tournament.

That puts the Huntington, Ind., native in a tie for 49th. There are still scores yet to be posted.

Fellow West Florida Golf Tour participant, Daniel Stone, is currently in a tie for sixth after a 6-under par 65 on the Southern Pines Golf Club layout.

Lauer also played his first round at Southern Pines. The other venue for the tournament is Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club.

Lauer had six birdies in his round, but also bogeyed four holes.

Edward Loar is the current leader at 9-under par.

West Florida Golf Tour's "Race to the Ritz" begins

Logo provided by WFGT.

The West Florida Golf Tour's "Race to the Ritz" match play tournament began Saturday.

The competition pits the top 12 players on the tour's money list in a winner-take-all event. The prize is the winning player gets their PGA Tour Q-School entry fees paid for this year.

No. 9-seeded Sam Osborne, who lives in Palmetto, defeated two opponents - including top-seeded Joey Lamielle - during Saturday's first two rounds.

Nick Jones, seeded fourth, received an opening-round bye and then bested Travis Perkins 1-up.

Those two will meet in Sunday's first semifinal, slated for 9:30 a.m. at the Founders Club, where Saturday's rounds took place.

Daniel Stone earned a berth in the other semifinal as the tournament's 10th seed. He dispatched former Lakewood Ranch High and Florida State University standout Seath Lauer 5-and-4 before downing No. 2-seeded Matthew Galloway 4-and-3.

He'll face three-time PGA Tour winner Robert Gamez, who had a hard-fought 21-hole match against Sarasota's Brian Ward.

Gamez received an opening-round bye due to his No. 3 standing on the WFGT's Order of Merit.

Sunday morning's winners will then travel to the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club for the final in the afternoon, with the Q-School payment awaiting as the grand prize.

For more information on Saturday's matches, including the long battle between Gamez and Ward, check out Sunday's edition of the Bradenton Herald.

The Monday Recap: Local Edition

While the Sarasota City Men's Amateur wrapped up its 40th annual four-day, 72-hole tournament, area players also were on the tournament trail.
University of North Florida senior and former Cardinal Mooney standout Chris Kennedy polished off his second Sarasota City Men's Amateur title at Bobby Jones Golf Club's British Course.

He carded a final round 71 for a 12-under par 276 total. Kennedy's four rounds were all under par, and he downed reigning Bradenton City Men's Amateur champ Aaron Bishop (second place, 283 total) and Bradenton resident Phil Walters (third, 288) for the crown.

Walters previously won both the Bradenton and Sarasota City Men's Amateur titles, and recently took the Bradenton City Two-Man Combo championship with Bishop.

For full results, click here.

Meanwhile, Bradenton's Jaclyn Sweeney collected 3,668.75 Euros for her performance overseas in the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open.

Sweeney carded a 1-over par 74 in the final round to tie for 14th place at 6-over par.

Christel Boeljon won the tournament at 5-under par 287. Only four players broke par for the 72-hole tourney.

Sweeney is 23rd on the Ladies European Tour's Order of Merit with 11,237.64 Euros.

That equates to $16,111.40 based on the current exchange rate.

Back in the United States, Florida State University alumnus Seath Lauer fired his best round of the week to vault up to a tie for 44th place at the eGolf Professional Tour's Willow Creek Open in High Point, N.C.

The former Lakewood Ranch High standout shot 5-under par 67 to grab a $1,377.50 payday for the 72-hole event.

Lauer had previously attempted to Monday qualify for the Nationwide Tour events in Georgia.

He missed in his bids the past two weeks, but area pro Devin Spies made it into the Stadion Classic at UGA field.

Like Lauer and Nationwide Tour regular Travis Hampshire, Spies has played regularly on the West Florida Golf Tour in the past year.

However, both Spies and Hampshire failed to make the cut after posting a 148 and 146 total, respectively.

The cut came at 144.

Lakewood Ranch's Seath Lauer makes eGolf Tour cut

Seath Lauer at a West Florida Golf Tour event in September. Photo by Paul Videla/Bradenton Herald

Former Lakewood Ranch High standout Seath Lauer didn't qualify for the Nationwide Tour stop in Georgia stop, but the Florida State University grad is plugging along in North Carolina where the eGolf Professional Tour is hosting a 72-hole event.

Lauer, who is currently ranked No. 7 on the West Florida Golf Tour's Order of Merit, made the cut after shooting 70-74 for a 2-under par 144 total at the halfway point at the Willow Creek Open in High Point, N.C.

However, he soared to a 76 on day three and is tied for 69th out of the 77 players that made the cut.

Lauer's 218 total is 15 shots behind tournament leader Jerry Richardson.

Lauer's final round tee time is 9:50 a.m. off No. 10.

Seath Lauer tries Nationwide Tour Monday qualifier

Seath Lauer during a West Florida Golf Tour event last September. Photo by Paul Videla/pvidela@bradenton.com

Florida State University alum Seath Lauer, who played at Lakewood Ranch High, tried Monday qualifying for another Nationwide Tour event.

Last week, he attempted to earn a spot into the South Georgia Classic.

On Monday, Lauer carded a 1-over par 72 to miss out on a berth into the Stadion Classic at UGA slated to begin Thursday in Athens, Ga.

There were two different sites to qualify from as Lauer joined other West Florida Golf Tour members at Achasta Golf Club.

Only seven players qualified from that venue, the last spots came at 6-under par 65.

WFGT participant Devin Spies qualified after a 7-under par 64.

Former Bradenton Academy alum Casey Wittenberg posted a 1-over par 73 at the Jennings Mill Country Club qualifying site.

However, the scoring on that course was much different as the last player in shot 3-under par 69.

Wittenberg, who shares David Whelan as a coach with LPGA Tour star and friend Paula Creamer, also tried qualifying for last week's John Smoltz headlined Nationwide Tour stop like Lauer.

Matthew Galloway also attempted to qualify once again.

Galloway, who is No. 2 on the WFGT's Order of Merit, also shot a 73.

Former IMG Academy standouts Tyler Leon and Ty Tryon failed with a 77 and 78, respectively.

Seath Lauer joins area players in Nationwide Tour bid

Casey Wittenberg at the PGA Tour's Children's Miracle Network Classic in 2009. Courtesy of McClatchy-Tribune News Service

The Nationwide Tour's South Georgia Classic featured some West Florida Golf Tour players attempting to Monday qualify.

Former Lakewood Ranch High and Florida State University standout Seath Lauer joined Matthew Galloway and Daniel Stone for a spot into this week's event.

Former PGA Tour regular Casey Wittenberg also tried qualifying.

So did Ty Tryon and Tyler Leon, who spent time at IMG Academies like Wittenberg.

None of those made it through the one-day qualifier.

The Nationwide Tour conducted the qualifier at two separate venues - seven players made this week's field at each site.

Stone came the closest after a 6-under par 66. His round at Doublegate Country Club only netted him a seven-way playoff for four spots.

He lost out.

Wittenberg finished in 53rd after a 2-under par 70.

Lauer, Galloway, Tryon and Leon all played at Glen Arven Country Club.

Lauer and Galloway both carded 70s to tie for 41st at that site.

Leon, whose sister Taylor is playing the Avnet LPGA Classic this week, posted a 1-under 70 and Tryon finished at 1-over 73.

The tournament has generated buzz because former Atlanta Braves starting pitcher John Smoltz was given a sponsor's exemption into the tournament.

Seath Lauer's game continues to grow

Seath Lauer during a West Florida Golf Tour event in Sept./photo by Paul Videla/pvidela@bradenton.com

Despite not gaining entry onto the PGA Tour for the 2011 season, Seath Lauer's first full year in the professional ranks has promise.

That's because Lauer advanced from pre-qualification all the way to the final stage of the grueling PGA Tour Q-School.

Progressing that far has given Lauer some fortuitous aide in the form of financial help.

"I've signed with an agent and I've done that move," Lauer said. "A lot of things have come about it, because a lot of people look at it in terms of it being my first year. And how many first-year guys out of college never would make it that far ... I've definitely seen some doors open already."

Lauer said his plan is to Monday qualify for Nationwide Tour events and make a few dollars early to set himself up for the remainder of 2011.

In other words, getting off to a hot start to secure exemptions into additional tournaments down the road.

To read more about Lauer, visit "Lakewood Ranch's Lauer pursues pro golf career."

And if you'd like a visual aide on how important Lauer was during his senior year at Florida State, then check out the following video:

Area pros don't earn a PGA Tour card at Q-School

Ty Tryon, circa 2002, provided by McClatchy News-Service

With the PGA Tour's final stage of Q-School finishing up Monday, the several pros with Manatee County connections didn't crack the top 25.

Only those 25 players and ties earned a PGA Tour card for the upcoming 2011 season.

Here's how the area guys finished up in the six-round pressure-cooker at Orange County National's Crooked Cat and Panther Lake courses in Winter Garden (near Orlando):

Travis Hampshire finished the best with a tie for 74th.

The former U.S. Open participant, who honed his craft on the West Florida Golf Tour during its inaugural season in 2010, fired a fifth-round 65 to vault up the leaderboard.

He closed with a final round 71 on the Panther Lake Course to finish with a 2-under par, 427 total.

Ty Tryon, former IMG Academies' prodigy, crashed and burned in the final round.

Tryon dropped all the way to a tie for 114th following a 77 on the Panther Lake Course Monday.

Seath Lauer possesses long-hitting prowess, which his former Florida State teammate Tommy Rymer said was key for the Crooked Cat Course set up.

However, Lauer couldn't generate any rounds under par throughout the week and ended up near the bottom in 151st place.

Lauer finished on the Panther Lake Course, posting a 79 on Monday.


Tyler Leon, former Saint Stephen's standout, carded a final round 77 to tie for 146th.


Michael Sims, a West Florida Golf Tour participant, moved up to a tie for 93rd with a final round 68 on the Panther Lake Course.

Sims finished at with an even par, 429 total.

David Lutterus, the Australian native listed from Bradenton, was one shot better than Sims for the six day tourney.

Lutterus ended his quest for a PGA Tour card on the Crooked Cat Course layout with a 73 on Monday.

All the players gained at least conditional status on the Nationwide Tour, the developmental tour one notch below the PGA Tour.

PGA Tour Q-School starts rough for area pros

Ty Tryon circa 2002 at Genuity Championship at the Doral Resort and Spa/ provided by McClatchy News-Service

Here's the scoop from the final stage of PGA Tour Q-School in Winter Garden:

Players faced windy conditions in Wednesday's opening round (scores can be found in that day's Bradenton Herald sports section).

And the cool temperatures hit the field for Thursday's second round.

The top 25 and ties earn a PGA Tour card for the 2011 season and there's a few players with area connections in the six-round tournament at Orange County National's Crooked Cat and Panther Lake courses.

Here's how they stand after Thursday's second round:

Ty Tryon, former IMG Academies' prodigy, is faring the best among the locals thus far.

Tryon had four birdies to offset three bogeys in a second-round 70 on the Panther Lake course that puts him in a tie for 53rd at even par.

Tyler Leon, former Saint Stephen's standout, posted his second straight 74 - this time on the Crooked Cat track - to tie for 128th through 36 holes.

Leon had just three birdies in the round and is 5-over par for the tourney.

Seath Lauer, former Lakewood Ranch High standout, is struggling through two rounds.

That's a bit of a surprise given how his former Florida State teammate Tommy Rymer and West Florida Golf Tour owner Carl Wakely both labeled the Crooked Cat course as a perfect match with Lauer's bombing game.

Both Rymer and Wakely said it's a bomber's paradise.

Yet Lauer is tied for 160th out of 162 players following a 7-over 79 on day two. That round was played on the Crooked Cat course and featured five bogeys, a triple and one birdie.

Travis Hampshire, a Tampa-area pro that played in this year's U.S. Open, has played the WFGT throughout its inaugural season.

He's tied for 94th at 3-over par with a second round 72 that began on Panther Lake's No. 10.

Hampshire bogeyed three of his final four holes on his front nine, before birdies on Nos. 1 and 2 got him back to even par on the par-71 layout.

Michael Sims, another WFGT participant, also played the Panther Lake course on day two.

He's tied for 139th after a 74 that yielded just one birdie.

David Lutterus, the Australian native listed from Bradenton, posted an even-par 72 on the Crooked Cat layout.

That puts Lutterus at 3-over par and a tie for 94th.

So to recap, unless there's some low figures soon, the area pros won't be earning a PGA Tour card for 2011.

Rymer's victory part of a hot streak

Tommy Rymer is, in the immortal words of broadcaster Dan Patrick, "En fuego."

Rymer has won his last three starts on the West Florida Golf Tour, including the inaugural Tour Championship presented by the Siesta Key Pita Shack at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club in east Manatee County.

He went bogey-par-par to win by a shot over three-time PGA Tour winner Robert Gamez, who missed a couple short putts on his final nine in the 27-hole event.

"I knew I was in the lead after the first round, but I didn't know how many strokes I was in the lead by," Rymer said.

Rymer missed out at the PGA Tour Q-School first stage at the Grasslands in Lakeland by one shot, when he three-putted his final hole.

It was his second attempt at Q-School.

He tried his hand for the first time following hip surgery in March 2009.

"I was out for 6 1/2 months," Rymer said. "And the reason I had it in March was so I could go to Q-School (in the fall) for the first time."

But that wasn't the lone injury that Rymer suffered.

Rymer said he threw out his back at second stage at the Hombre Golf Club in Panama City following a 1-under 71 round.

To read more about Rymer, visit "Rymer wins West Florida Golf Tour championship."

PGA Tour Q-School: Inside the numbers

Ty Tryon at PGA Tour Q-School in 2001/provided by McClatchy News-Service

PGA Tour Q-School's second stage wrapped up across six venues Saturday, with seven players, who have a some sort of a connection to Manatee County, advancing to the final stage at Orange County National's Crooked Cat and Panther courses Dec. 1-6.

Today's recap takes a magnifying glass approach to see just how they continued the quest for a PGA Tour card.

There's also a glimpse into how a couple other players' dreams vanished when they flamed out in the final round of their qualifying site.

(Note: all have played at least one West Florida Golf Tour event except Tyler Leon, Ty Tryon, David Lutterus and Jason Kokrak)

Redstone Golf Club in Humble, Texas (19 players and ties advanced; cut: 2-over, 290)

Former Saint Stephen's standout Tyler Leon shot 5-under over his last 54 holes, including birdies on his last two holes, to tie for 11th and secure a final stage berth.

Redstone's 73.19 scoring average plagued most of the field, but Leon grinded through with 13 birdies to offset eight bogeys and two doubles.

TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas (20 players and ties advanced; cut: 6-under, 282)

Two West Florida Golf Tour players advanced from the other Texas venue. Former Lakewood Ranch standout Seath Lauer shot a final-round 71, while former U.S. Open qualifier Travis Hampshire carded a 69 on the last day to advance.

Lauer was buoyed by a strong final nine that included birdies on Nos. 10, 11 and 18.

Hampshire finished off the tournament with his second sub-70 round. All four of his rounds were under par.

Meanwhile, Australian David Lutterus, who is listed from Bradenton, finished in a tie for second.

Lutterus stormed out to the 36-hole lead after posting 68-64. He followed that up with 70-71 to earn entry into the next phase.

Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta, Calif. (20 players and ties advanced; 2-over, 290)

The first California venue played the hardest with a 73.95 scoring average.

Yet, Michael Sims and Jason Kokrak made it through.

Sims eked his way in following back-to-back 74s. He grabbed one of the last spots with a birdie on No. 18 on the last day.

Kokrak, who won an eGolf Professional Tour event earlier this year while listed from Bradenton Beach, opened strong with a 67. His worst round came with a 73 in the final round, but the long-hitter had done enough to take a tie for sixth.

Hombre Golf Club in Panama City (19 players and ties advanced; even par, 284)

No area players made it through with Michael Schachner having a decent chance heading into the final round. However, he flamed out with an 81 that took him to a tie for 54th.

Scachner's round got off to a horrendous start. Playing the back nine to begin the last round, Schachner opened with a triple-bogey on No. 10.

He then bogeyed seven more holes, including his last four, to finish the final round without a birdie.

Sarasota's Brian Ward was the closest, jumping up to 4-over par following a final-round 69.

Joey Lamielle, the WFGT's Order of Merit leader, also played his best on the last day.

But his 70 was only good to finish at 7-over par, well behind the last qualifying positions.

The lone par-71 site played over par with a 72.44 scoring average for the tourney.

Southern Hills Plantation Club in Brooksville (19 players and ties advanced; 6-under par, 282)

Ty Tryon was the only player with a connection to the county to advance.

The former wunderkind, who turned pro at the early age of 16 in 2001, has gone through all the heartache since leaving IMG Academies for the professional life.

Tryon has a chance to gain entry on the PGA Tour after four consistent scores (70-69-72-71) in Brooksville.

Tryon bogeyed two of his last four holes, but a par on No. 18 gave him a tie for 13th - the last qualifying spot as seven players tied at 6-under par.

Lakeland's Travis Perkins had a chance to advance, but instead of shooting under par on the last day, he posted a 74.

That put him in a tie for 30th and ended his quest for a PGA Tour card for 2010.

The players getting to the final stage all get at least conditional status on the Nationwide Tour, but the real prize is full-time status as a PGA Tour member - the elite professional golf tour in the world.

Check back here prior to the final stage (Dec. 1-6) for tee times, and catch the action on The Golf Channel beginning with round four coverage.

PGA Tour Q-School's second stage nears end

The second stage of PGA Tour Q-School has ended at one venue, while the five other sites have just 18 holes remaining.

Here's how things shape up for those with a realistic shot of making it (within five shots going into Saturday's final round) and the one area player who has already advanced to the final stage. All players have played West Florida Golf Tour tournaments with the exception of former Saint Stephen's standout Tyler Leon.

Redstone Golf Club in Humble, Texas:

Leon became the first pro to advance when he fired a final-round 69. Only the top 19 and ties progressed, with Leon taking a tie for 11th.

TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas:

Former Lakewood Ranch High and Florida State standout Seath Lauer is tied for 15th after slipping back with a third-round 73. Lauer is at 6-under par, with just 20 players and ties making it through.

Australian David Lutterus is still leading the other Texas venue at 14-under par. Lutterus is listed from Bradenton and is nine strokes ahead of the cut line for progression.

Travis Hampshire is at 7-under par to tie for 11th, just two strokes inside the cut.

Chris Damiano needs to make up a little ground following a 71 that puts him at 4-under par and a tie for 23rd.

Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta, Calif:

Michael Sims is tied for 26th and at even par heading into his final round. Only the top 20 and ties make the final stage. Sims is one shot behind the cut line.

Hombre Golf Club in Panama City:

Michael Schachner is the lone WFGT player who is within five shots of the last qualifying spots. He's four strokes back after a third-round 68 puts him in tie for 31st.

Southern Hills Plantation Club in Brooksville:

With just 19 places and ties gaining entry to the final stage, Travis Perkins is the lone WFGT player that has a chance to make it through.

Perkins is tied for 12th at 5-under par. He shot a third-round 69, but the margin of error is narrow - because Perkins is right on the current cut line. One mistake could cost the Lakeland resident a trip to the final stage.

Former PGA Tour pros Grant Waite and Robert Gamez both withdrew from the second Florida venue.

All the players are striving to get to the six-round final stage, which is played this year at Orange County National's Crooked Cat and Panther courses near Orlando Dec. 1-6.

From there, the grueling test will determine who earns a PGA Tour card and who has to wait another year.

Check out last year's highlights from the following video:

PGA Tour Q-School shaping up for some

Once again, an update from the PGA Tour's second stage of Q-School at various venues.

All players have played at least one event on the West Florida Golf Tour, with the exception of former Saint Stephen's and Oklahoma State standout Tyler Leon.

Five of the six sites are halfway through the 72 hole tournament. Players advance to the final stage, slated for the first week in December.

Redstone Golf Club in Humble, Texas, 19 qualifying positions and ties:

Leon has the best chance of progressing with a third-round 72 that puts the former Falcons golfer in 22nd place. Josh McCumber (tie for 50th) and Brett Bergeron (tie for 59th) need to go super low with just one round remaining.

TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, 20 qualifying positions and ties:

Bradenton represents the top of the leaderboard with former Lakewood Ranch standout Seath Lauer in a tie for third. Lauer shot a 67 in the second round, while Australian David Lutterus, who is listed from Bradenton, holds the 36-hole lead following a 64.

Travis Hampshire is tied for sixth after a 67. Chris Damiano is tied for 25th following a 68.

Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta, Calif.; 20 qualifying positions and ties:

Michael Sims carded a 2-under par 70 to tie for 18th.

Bayonet Course in Seaside, Calif.; 19 qualifying positions and ties:

Brennan Webb shot 74 and is tied for 47th through 36 holes.

Hombre Golf Club in Panama City; 19 qualifying positions and ties:

Sarasota's Brian Ward posted a 1-over 72 to tie for 29th. Fellow Sarasotan Joey Lamielle is in a tie for 45th following a 73, while Michael Schachner is tied for 45th after a 72.

Southern Hills Plantation Club in Brooksville; 19 qualifying positions and ties:

Former PGA Tour winner Grant Waite posted another 72 to tie for 47th. Fellow former PGA Tour winner Robert Gamez improved on his opening round 81 with a second-round 70. But he's well back of the pack in 72nd place.

Travis Perkins is in a tie for 27th after a 72. Joe Monte is tied for 66th after his second consecutive 74.

Check back here on Friday for continued updates and tracking of these players in their quest for a PGA Tour card.

PGA Tour Q-School update

Here's a look at how the West Florida Golf Tour players are faring at the various second stage sites for the PGA Tour's Q-School. There's two Texas, California and Florida sites, with different qualifying berths into the final stage in December dependent on field size:

Redstone Golf Club in Humble, Texas; 19 places and ties advance; through 36 of the 72 holes:

Josh McCumber and Brett Bergeron sit outside the cut line.

So does former Saint Stephen's and Oklahoma State standout Tyler Leon, who carded a 2-under par 70 to get into a tie for 27th after the second round.

Leon doesn't play the WFGT and is faring the best among those at Redstone, as McCumber (74-75) and Bergeron (74-74) are tied for 45th and tied for 39th, respectively.

TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas; 20 places and ties advance; through 18 of 72 holes:

Former Lakewood Ranch High and Florida State standout Seath Lauer fired a 2-under 70 to take a share of 17th place.

Travis Hampshire, the mini-tour pro who played in this year's U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, posted a 71 to tie for 32nd.

Chris Damiano carded a 73 for a tie for 53rd following his opening round.

Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta, Calif.; 20 places and ties advance; through 18 of 72 holes:

Michael Sims shot an even par 72 for a tie for 27th.

Bayonet Course in Seaside, Calif.; 19 places and ties advance; through 18 of 72 holes:

Brennan Webb carded an even par 72 to tie for 34th.

Hombre Golf Club in Panama City; 19 places and ties advance; through 18 of 72 holes:

Sarasota's Brian Ward posted a 2-over 73 to tie for 31st. Fellow Sarasotan Joey Lamielle is in a tie for 50th following a 75, while Schachner is tied for 59th after a 76.

Southern Hills Plantation Club in Brooksville; 19 places and ties advance; through 18 of 72 holes:

Former PGA Tour winner Grant Waite is tied for 52nd after a 72. Fellow former PGA Tour winner Robert Gamez is in dead-last after his 81 in the 73-player field.

Travis Perkins shot 70 to put the Lakeland resident into a tie for 29th. Joe Monte is tied for 66th after his 74.

Be sure to check back here throughout the rest of the week for continued updates and tracking of these players in their quest for a PGA Tour card.

PGA Tour Q-School second stage begins

The West Florida Golf Tour, the lone mini-tour along Florida's Gulf Coast, has multiple players in the PGA Tour's second stage of Q-School.

Chris Damiano, Travis Hampshire and former Lakewood Ranch High standout Seath Lauer are at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.

Sarasota's Joey Lamielle and Brian Ward, as well as Michael Schachner play their second stage at Hombre Golf Club in Panama City.

Former PGA Tour winners Grant Waite and Robert Gamez, along with Joe Monte and Travis Perkins will duel it out at Southern Hills at Brooksville - the other Florida venue.

Meanwhile, Brennan Webb (Bayonet Course in Seaside, Calif.) and Michael Sims (Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta, Calif.) are the lone WFGT members at those sites.

All of those venues run Nov. 17-20.

WFGT players Josh McCumber and Brett Bergeron already are underway in their second stage at Redstone Golf Club in Humble, Texas.

Both players are tied for 30th after opening 74s on the par-72 layout.

Also playing there is former Saint Stephen's and Oklahoma State standout Tyler Leon, who carded a 4-over 76 to tie for 49th after Day One.

Check back here for continued tracking of how these players do in their quest to gain entry on the PGA Tour.

After second stage comes the final hurdle - the grueling final stage in December - before players win a PGA Tour card for the 2011 season.

And if your golf appetite needs appeasing, then visit The Bradenton Herald's Tuesday edition for "Canadian duo wins Pro-Am at Legacy Golf Club" which outlines the inaugural RBC Bank Challenge and it's $10,000 first-place prize.