Former CGA Players of the Year Connor Jones and AJ Ott join former part-time Coloradan Dan Erickson in advancing to second stage of PGA Tour Q-school
By Gary Baines – 10/23/2026
Colorado residents Connor Jones and AJ Ott were once mainstays of the Colorado State University men’s golf squad, though they were never Ram teammates.
But the two former CGA Players of the Year certainly had something in common this week. Both competed in a PGA Tour Q-school tournament in Lincoln, Neb., and both made the grade at the first-stage event.
Jones, a resident of Westminster, and Ott, who now resides in Denver, finished eighth and 12th, respectively out of a 77-man field on Friday to advance to the second stage of Q-school, where they’ll tee it up Dec. 1-4 for the right to go to the Q-school finals. There, five 2027 PGA Tour cards will be awarded, with the next 40 players and ties landing preferred Korn Ferry Tour status. The remaining final-stage finishers will earn conditional status on the KFT.
Also moving on to the second stage on Friday — but in Albuquerque, N.M. — was Dan Erickson, whose family used to live in northern Colorado and was a member at TPC Colorado. Erickson, who closed with a 5-under-par 66, advanced on the number, finishing in a five-way tie for 14th at a site where the top 17 players and ties move on. He ended up at 5 under par for four days. At that same site, 2026 Inspirato Colorado Open champion Carson Lundell of Alpine, Utah (-8) tied for fifth to earn a second-stage berth.
Meanwhile, Jones posted four straight sub-par rounds (70-67-68-69) for a 10-under-par total, which left him seven strokes behind medalist Jonas Baumgartner of Stillwater, Okla. Jones recorded two eagles, 16 birdies and 10 bogeys over four days.
Ott, runner-up in the 2026 Colorado Open, went 67-69-67-73 to check in at 8 under par. He carded 16 birdies, six bogeys and a double bogey overall.
Here’s how all the players with strong Colorado ties fared in this week’s first-stage events:
Lincoln, Neb. Oct. 20-23 (Top 17 finishers and ties advance)
Advance to Second Stage
8. Connor Jones, Westminster 70-67-68-69—274
12. AJ Ott, Denver 67-69-67-73–276
Albuquerque, N.M. Oct. 20-23 (Top 17 finishers and ties advance)
Advances to Second Stage
14. Former part-time Coloradan Dan Erickson 71-70-72-66—279
Failed to Advance
27. Former CU golfer Adam Matteson 69-72-70-71–282
27. Former CU golfer Yannik Paul 75-68-72-67–282
33. Jake Staiano, Englewood 74-65-69-75—283
59. Derek Fribbs, Aurora 74-64-77-81–296
59. Hunter Swanson, Superior 75-70-73-78–296
For results from all 2026 PGA Tour Q-school tournaments held this week, CLICK HERE.
Here are the upcoming first-stage tournaments that feature players with significant Colorado connections:
West Palm Beach, Fla., Oct. 27-30
Former Golden resident Andy Svoboda
Newton, Kan., Oct. 27-30
Former CSU golfer Gunnar Broin
Rhett Johnson, Littleton
Bermuda Run, N.C., Oct. 27-30
Former CU golfer Dylan McDermott
Abilene, Texas Oct. 27-30
Former Colorado Christian University golfer Xavier Bighaus
Cheyenne native and former CU golfer Josh Creel
Former DU golfer John Sand
Tucson, Ariz., Nov. 3-6
Former CU golfer Tucker Clark
Former Fort Collins resident Matt Liringis
Lakewood Ranch, Fla., Nov. 3-6
Dillon Stewart, Fort Collins
Bo Wardynski, Berthoud
San Jacinto, Calif., Nov. 3-6
Griffin Barela, Lakewood
Former CU golfer Michael Feuerstein
Roberto Lebrija, Vail
