Fighting in the Finals

The first of four Korn Ferry Finals events begins Thursday in Boise. At the end of the four events, I will recap the 30 players who earn their PGA Tour cards. However, this week, I wanted to concentrate on a few stories of players who are currently on the outside looking in. They might be just outside the top 30, fighting for a Tour card, or way down the list fighting to get into the next event. 

(ICYMI: My article on the KFT Finals and how they work is here)

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Brandon Crick

Current Points Position: 31st

The native of Nebraska is the only player in golf (that I know of) sponsored by a famous stand-up comedian. Larry the Cable Guy has sponsored Crick for years, and Git-R-done is on Crick's hat. The veteran has played 150 KFT events in his 14-year pro career and considered quitting last year before earning conditional KFT status back late last season. 

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Dalton Ward

Current Points Position: 33rd

Less than 10 months ago, the 33-year-old Ward missed at the first stage of Q-school. However, early in 2024, Ward Monday Q'd for the Argentine Open and finished third. A few weeks later, he followed that up with another third-place finish in Wichita and earned KFT membership. Now, he is just three spots out of a Tour card. Ward played one season at a community college before quitting and working on his game, turning pro soon after. 

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Joe Weiler

Current Points Position: 35th

The Purdue grad finished 21st in his last event in 2023, which bumped him to 83rd in points and earned him conditional status for this season. He got married in July, but sadly, his Uncle passed away unexpectedly the Monday following Weiler’s wedding. At the time, Weiler and his wife, Sophie, were at the Colorado KFT for their "honeymoon." Despite all the ups and downs of the previous week, Weiler found himself tied for the lead on the back nine on Sunday. On the 12th hole, Weiler called a penalty on himself when his ball moved after trying to move a stick near his ball. He went on to finish T10. In Utah, a few weeks later, Weiler finished 2nd.  

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Tommy Gainey

Current Points Position: 43rd

At 49 years old and just one year away from his Champions Tour eligibility, Gainey finds himself with a chance to earn back his full PGA Tour card. The three-time KFT winner and 2012 PGA Tour winner, Gainey finished second in Springfield, Missouri, last month and jumped up the points list. Coming into the event he had missed five consecutive cuts. 

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Charles Porter

Current Points Position: 94th

As kids, Porter and his six siblings, along with their parents, didn't always have a permanent place to stay, and there wasn't always food to eat. Despite those challenges, Porter's Dad would drop him off at the local municipal golf course, where he and his brother would play for hours. Two top-20s and four made cuts in his last six events have helped Porter move up the points list.

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Mason Williams

Current Points Position: 130th

The Georgia Southern alum turned pro early this year and then, on Monday, qualified for the KFT event in Savannah. He made the most of his start and finished T9. That earned him a start in the following event, where he missed the cut. He had to wait four months until his next start, which was last week in New Jersey. There, he again took advantage of his opportunity and finished T13, moving up to 130th in points. 

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Peter Kuest

Current Points Position: 132nd

Kuest is proof that there are players who are much better PGA Tour players than they are KFT players. In just 18 PGA Tour events over the last two seasons, Kuest has made 12 cuts and has seven top-25s. In his previous 30 KFT starts over two seasons, he has just three top-25s. He has made just five cuts in 17 events this season on the KFT. Despite all the success on the PGA Tour in the past two seasons, Kuest could find himself back at the first stage of Q school if he doesn’t take advantage of the Finals events. 

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Hunter Eichhorn

Current Points Position: 143rd

Only 144 players make it into the second KFT Finals event, so the native of Michigan will have to make the cut and play well to earn a spot there. The Marquette alum Monday qualified for the KFT event in Dallas in April and went on to finish fifth. That has been his only made cut in four events this season, but was enough to earn a spot in this week's field. Eichhorn grew up in a small town in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the last place you would find a future pro. Read my full story on his journey here. 

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Bryson Nimmer

Current Points Position: 154th

Last month, Nimmer Monday qualified and finished T11 in Chicago. It was the lone bright spot in an otherwise tough season for the former Clemson standout. Last week in New Jersey, he missed the cut and had to sweat out whether he’d make it into this week's field. However, there is no disputing his talent, confirmed by his multiple Monday Qs on the PGA Tour. He will need to have a solid week to get into the top 144 for the next KFT Finals event. 

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Kyle Stanley

Current Points List: 156

Almost exactly six years ago this week, Stanley was playing in the BMW Championship and was ranked 26th in the world. The following week, he would finish T15 in the Tour Championship. Soon after, the two-time PGA Tour winner started to struggle, and this year, he made just four of 20 cuts on the KFT and is the last man into the Boise field. Golf can be a cruel game. 

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