Byron Nelson Monday Preview

This week brings us the Byron Nelson and another Monday qualifier. Although the main field is relatively weak (becoming the standard for these non-designated events), the Monday Q has a pretty strong field for one main reason. The Korn Ferry Tour is off for the second straight week, and KFT members are exempt directly into PGA Tour Mondays, so a good number of members (esp the ones from Texas) will tee it up this morning. 

Here is a breakdown. 

‍The Course 

Hurricane Creek Country Club. It is a private club located in Anna Texas. 

Yardage: 7,053

Slope: 127

Rating: 74.3

Historical Scoring: The last two seasons 8-under has been the medalist at this course. Last year the playoff was at 6-under and in 2021 the playoff was at five-under.

‍The Field

‍Crafty Vets-  European Tour winner Brian Davis. Multi-time Tour winners John Rollins and DJ Trahan. Another Tour winner Seung Yol Noh, along with longtime grinders Tag Ridings, Shawn Stefani, David Hearn, Jamie Lovemark and Wes Roach, among others. 

‍The Patrick Cantlay award- Theo Humphrey is in the field, I caddied in a group with him in a KFT event, and he is the slowest player by far. He was obviously fighting some mental stuff and at times couldn’t pull the trigger. On one tee shot, I honestly wondered if he was going to be able to pull the club back, it was tough to watch (and is hard to play with.) Theo is also REALLY intense on the course, it was an experience. 

‍NCAA regionals- There are a total of 10 amateurs in the Monday Q field this week. Including Nathan Petronzio and Dawson Ovard from SMU along with Cody Winkler from nearby North Texas University. 

‍Who drove you?- Luke Colton is also one of the Amateurs in the field. Colton graduates in 2026…from High School. 

‍Hammer time- Cole Hammer who is 42 points away from Special Temporary Membership (h/t Rob Bolton) on the PGA Tour is in the field. 

‍Young Gun- If you don’t know the name Frankie Capan III, it’s time to learn it, you will be hearing it a lot in the coming years. Capan had one of the most amazing Q-school stats I know of. He got through Pre-Q, 1st, 2nd, and final stage with a combined score of SIXTY under. But the most amazing part of that is, that in the four stages he lost to a TOTAL of nine players. Last KFT event he finished 3rd, and is currently 33rd in KFT points. It will be no surprise if he gets through here.

True Veteran- Tom Whitney, an Air Force veteran, and one of my favorite people is in the field. Whitney has had a great start to his KFT season and currently sits 14th in points. He lives in Texas, so it makes sense for him to give a Tour Monday a run on an off week. 

‍Mini-Tour legend- Andre Metzger, who many people remember after getting through the Monday Q for the Waste Management, is in the field. The Dakotas Tour legend, who has made a killing on that tour for years, looks to get through his second qualifier of the year. 

‍My Picks

Derek Oland- The guy is just too good to not eventually have a breakthrough. 

Brandon Smith- He just won the APT event on Saturday and is a Texas native.

Frankie Capan III- For the reasons listed above

Zack Fischer- In 2019 when Corey Conners won the Valero after Monday Q’ing in, another one of the qualifiers finished T14 that year…

Leaderboard

https://ntpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/ntpga23/event/ntpga2321/contest/1/leaderboard.htm

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