PGA Tour
The PGA Tour Monday qualifier offered two spots into the Texas Children’s Houston Open. It was held at Westwood Golf Course, a 7,200-yard par-72 and the second-oldest private club in Houston. Notables in the field included Nick Hardy, Roger Sloan, Taylor Moore, Justin Lower, and Robert Streb.
PGA Tour veteran Sam Ryder had complete control of his golf ball from the opening shot—despite seeing the course for the first time. His card featured 12 circles, and Ryder ran away from the field with a 12-under 60.
“It’s definitely one of the best rounds I’ve ever played,” Ryder told Ryan French after the round. “When I go out to a Monday qualifier, I feel like I’ve got a chip on my shoulder.”
Ryder’s career-low round on the PGA Tour remains a 62 at the 2018 Shriners Children’s Open. He finished T27 at this year’s American Express and has made three of five cuts this season. This week gives him another opportunity to build momentum.
The round comes on the heels of a withdrawal at last week’s Valspar Monday qualifier.
“I unintentionally cheated,” Ryder said.
Ryder was three-under through nine at Brooksville Country Club. With lift, clean, and place in effect due to soft conditions, he realized he hadn’t been placing his ball within a scorecard length. He called the penalty on himself and withdrew.
The golf gods, it seems, took note.
“I was on the back nine on 13 and saw it was a par 72,” Ryder said. “I think it was my mentality to stay aggressive—to try and shoot 59.”
Playing the course blind, Ryder studied the scorecard on the back nine to anticipate what was ahead.
“I haven’t shot 59 before. The last hole was a short par-5.”
He gave himself a makeable look for 59. The putt slid by—but at least he didn’t leave it short.
Jackson Suber claimed the second spot with a nine-under round built on nine birdies and nine pars, finishing two shots clear of Hardy and Sloan.
Suber, a 2024 Korn Ferry Tour graduate, has struggled early this season on the PGA Tour, making just two cuts with a best finish of T63 at the Cognizant Classic. He did, however, contend on the Korn Ferry Tour in Bogota, Colombia, where he finished T4. At last year’s Rocket Mortgage Classic, Suber finished T6 but narrowly held onto conditional PGA Tour status. Monday’s round could be a timely spark.
LPGA Tour
The LPGA Tour heads to Phoenix this week for the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass. The qualifier was held on the tournament course—Whirlwind Golf Club’s Cattail Course—giving players and fans a valuable preview.
A field of 48 competed in the desert heat for two spots. Notables included Hira Naveed, Jeongeun Lee6, Kate Smith-Stroh, Jessica Porvasnik, and Christina Kim.
Former UCLA Bruin Kate Villegas took advantage of the conditions, firing a nine-under round to earn medalist honors. The 23-year-old endured a difficult rookie season on the Epson Tour last year, making five cuts with a best finish of T22. This opportunity could be a turning point.
Amanda Doherty secured the second spot after a four-for-one playoff, outlasting Gigi Stoll, Kate Smith-Stroh, and Min Lee.
The 28-year-old was T3 after an opening-round 65 at last year’s Ford Championship before fading on the weekend. A Florida State alumna with two LPGA top-10s, Doherty will look to build on that experience.
Korn Ferry Tour
The Korn Ferry Tour is in Savannah this week for the Club Car Championship at The Landings. Two qualifying sites each offered four spots.
At Georgia Southern Golf Club, 17-year-old amateur Miles Russell opened with five birdies in his first six holes and never looked back, earning medalist honors with a seven-under 63.
Danny Fisher and Anthony Maccaglia followed with 64s, while Korn Ferry Tour winner Carl Yuan secured the final spot via playoff after a 65.
At Sapelo Hammock, Keller Harper claimed medalist honors with a 64.
Cooper Musselman, Thomas Ponder, Petr Hrubý, and Brandon Berry all shot 65, setting up a four-for-three playoff. Berry was eliminated, with the remaining three earning spots in the field at The Landings
