Returning to Korn Ferry Tour

Former CGA Player of the Year Jake Staiano of Englewood advances to final stage of Q-school for 2nd straight year, assuring him at least conditional Korn Ferry Tour status for 2023

By Gary Baines – 10/14/2022

This year, Jake Staiano of Englewood made nine starts on the Korn Ferry Tour after receiving conditional status at Q-school last fall.

In 2023, the former CGA Player of the Year again will have some status on the KFT — conditional at the least, but potentially much more.

Staiano, a former Colorado State University golfer and the winner of the 2021 Rocky Mountain Open, earned a return trip to the Q-school finals on Friday, this time by tying for 14th place in a second-stage qualifying tournament in Albuquerque.

With the top 17 players and ties from the UNM Championship Course advancing to Q-school finals, Staiano posted scores of 69-73-70-68 for a 4-under-par 280 total to advance to the finals on the number. He birdied two of his final three holes — and three of his final eight — to make the grade.

The final stage of Korn Ferry Tour Q-school is set for Nov. 4-7 in Savannah, Ga. All finishers in that event will receive no worse than conditional status on the KFT for 2023, with the top 40 and ties getting at least some exempt status.

Staiano, the runner-up in the 2021 Inspirato Colorado Open, made three cuts in his nine KFT events this year, with a best finish of 43rd place. He’ll turn 26 years old later this month.

Two additional second-stage events in Q-school — in Murrieta, Calif., and Plantation, Fla. — will be held Oct. 18-21.

Here’s how local golfers fared this week in their stage 2 of KFT Q-school tournaments:

At Albuquerque (Top 17 Finishers and Ties Advance to Final Stage)

ADVANCES TO FINAL STAGE OF Q-SCHOOL

14. Jake Staiano, Englewood 69-73-70-68—280

FAILED TO ADVANCE

38. AJ Ott, Fort Collins 73-71-72-71–287

52. Jackson Solem, Longmont 77-69-76-69–291

55. Chris Korte, Littleton 72-77-71-73—293

63. Former DU golfer Chris Gilman 71-76-72-75–294

At Dothan, Ala. (Top 19 Finishers and Ties Advance to Final Stage)

FAILED TO ADVANCE

33. Former Coloradan Gunner Wiebe 69-74-71-69–283

57. Griffin Barela, Lakewood 71-72-73-72—288

For all the results from Korn Ferry Tour Q-school in 2022, CLICK HERE.