Gearing Up

Two Coloradans had workmanlike starts on Tuesday in a First Stage Web.com Tour Q-school tournament in Nebraska City.

Two-time CoBank Colorado Open champion Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch opened with a 1-under-par 70 that left him in 24th place in the 72-hole event. And Chris Korte of Littleton posted a 71 that put him in 33rd place in the 74-man field.

The top 21 finishers and ties after four rounds will advance to the Second Stage of Q-school.

Tolan, a former University of Colorado golfer, made three birdies and two bogeys on Tuesday, while Korte, a former University of Denver player, carded four birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.

Last week, four players with strong Colorado connections advanced from a First Stage Q-school tournament to Second Stage — Zahkai Brown of Golden, fellow former Colorado State University golfer Blake Cannon, and former CU players Yannik and Jeremy Paul.

Seven other First Stage tournaments are scheduled for next week. Then there will be five Second Stage tourneys from Oct. 30-Nov. 9. The Final Stage is Dec. 6-9 in Chandler, Ariz., where 2018 Web.com Tour cards will be distributed.

Here are this week’s First-Stage scores for all the players with strong Colorado ties:

Oct. 2-5, 2018 in Nebraska City
(Top 21 finishers and ties after 72 holes advance to Second Stage)

24. Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch 70
33. Chris Korte, Littleton 71