ELMSFORD, N.Y. (November 12, 2007) - Five Met Area players advanced to the second stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying School. Leading the way are two former Met Open champions, Andrew Svoboda of Winged Foot and John Stoltz of The Concord. They will be joined by former Ike champion Brad Tilley of Sleepy Hollow andTyler Hall of Packanack when the second stage begins on November 14 at one of six sites across the country. Trump National-Bedminster assistant professional Jim Herman also advanced.

Svoboda, who finished t-2nd at this year’s Met Open, played his first stage at Kinderlou Forest GC in Valdosta, Ga. Despite a final-round 79, Svoboda finished at four-over-par and t-18th to claim one of the qualifying spots. Herman played at The Auburn University Club in Auburn, Ala., where he finished t-6th with a four-round total of 284 (-4). Tilley and Stoltz both played at Martin Downs CC in Palm City, Fla., where Tilley finished at six-under-par and t-18th to advance. Stoltz finished t-24th to claim one of the final qualifying spots. Tyler Hall was the final player to advance to the second stage after finishing t-17th at the TPC Scottsdale qualifying site.

Nationwide Tour professional and former Met Open winnerJim McGovern, who was exempt from first stage qualifying due to his 45th place finish on the Nationwide Tour money list, will also play in the second stage. Chris Nallen, also of the Nationwide Tour, is exempt into the final stage, which begins on November 28. Nallen finished 38th on the Nationwide Tour money list and the top 40 finishers are exempt into the final stage.

Several other Met Area players advanced to the first stage from pre-qualifying but failed to make it to the second stage. Andreas Huber of Garden City GC, who finished 2nd at this year’s Ike Championship, played at The Auburn University Club but failed to advance. Two-time CSGA Open champion Nick Cook of Mill River (Conn.) played at Stonebridge Ranch GC in McKinney, Texas, and finished seven-strokes back of the last qualifying spot. Two players, former New York State Open winner Jimmy Hazen of St. George’s and Eamonn McLoughlin of the Cherry Valley Club, played at the Martin Downs CC site and failed to qualify for the second stage.

The players now advance to one of six sites for the second stage of Q-School, which runs from November 14-17. McGovern, Svoboda and Tilley will play at Lake Jovita CC in Dade City, Fla. Stoltz is scheduled to play in the second stage site at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. Herman will head to The Woodlands in Kingwood, Texas. Hall will attempt to advance at Royal Dunes GC in Maricopa, Ariz.

Click on the link below to follow the local pros as they try to earn a spot on the 2008 PGA Tour.

PGA TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL