ELMSFORD, N.Y. (September 11, 2012) – It’s often referred to as one of the most challenging and pressure-filled grinds in all of sports. The PGA Tour’s Qualifying School officially kicks off on Tuesday, September 11 with pre-qualifying at several sites throughout the country. Eighteen Met Area players will be there to test their nerves and take their best shot at advancing to the final stage and the ultimate opportunity of playing among the world’s best on a week-to-week basis.

The Pre-Qualifying Stage, which was introduced in 2006, will be played throughout five sites and consists of 54 holes of stroke play. Each field will contain approximately 78 players with the number of qualifiers to be determined. If players survive the Pre-Qualifying Stage, they move on to the First Qualifying Stage, which will be held at 13 sites during the second and third weeks in October.

Below are the sites and the Met Area players scheduled to compete. For a complete Q-School schedule, visit their official website here.

Bear Lakes Country Club, West Palm Beach, Fla., - Sept. 11-13

Competitors: 2010 Met Amateur champion Evan Beirne of North Haven, Conn., 2011 Ike champion and two-time Met Amateur winner Tommy McDonagh of Norwalk, Conn., Matt Dubrowski of Bergenfield, N.J., Casey Calmi of Douglaston, N.Y., and Michael Furci of Sayville, N.Y.  McDonagh, Dubrowski, Calmi and Furci all turned pro within the last year.

RESULTS (Calmi, Furci, Dubrowski advance)

 

Bayonet and Blackhorse Golf Course, Seaside, Ca. – Sept. 11-13

Competitors: Michael Bennett of Jordan, N.Y., James Ellington of New York, N.Y., and John Murphy of Wilton, Conn. Murphy tied for 49th at this year’s Met Open at Plainfield Country Club.

RESULTS (NO LOCAL PLAYERS ADVANCE)

 

Southern Dunes Golf Club, Maricopa, Ariz. – Sept. 12-14

Competitors: Francisco Cossio of Brigantine, N.J., Zhanybai Eshimbaev of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Jeffrey Hatten of Farmington, Conn.

RESULTS (NO LOCAL PLAYERS ADVANCE)

 

Cypresswood Golf Club, Spring, Texas - Sept. 18-20

Competitors: Anthony Aruta of Staten Island, N.Y., Matthew Majka of Clinton, N.Y., Mike Midgette of Plainview, N.Y.,  and Paul Park of Wayne, N.J. Aruta finished 23^rd in last year’s Met Open and T42 in this year’s Met Open. Midgette, who turned pro in 2012, finished tied for 23^rd in this year’s Long Island Open.

RESULTS (Aruta advances)

 

Arbor Links GC, Nebraska City, NE - Sept. 19-21

Competitors: Greg Etimos of East Islip, N.Y., and Tim Hegarty of Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. Etimos qualified for the match play portion of this year’s Met Amateur and turned professional shortly after. Hegarty holds the Met Open record for the lowest 18-hole score with a 62, which he shot at Country Club of Fairfield in 2008.

RESULTS (NO LOCAL PLAYERS ADVANCE)

 

Brunswick CC, Brunswick, Ga. - Sept. 19-21

Competitors: Cody Paladino of Kensington, Conn. Paladino qualified for the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier at Canoe Brook in 2011 where he finished T45.

RESULTS (NO LOCAL PLAYERS ADVANCE)