For former LSU golfers Andrew Loupe and John Peterson, the next step of their journey as professional golfers hinges on what they do next in Q-school.
Q-school is the PGA’s qualifying system where amateurs compete for a handful of spots for a PGA Tour card. The card would allow them to compete in professional events without qualifying before the event.
It’s a time filled with either intense emotional highs or depressingly crushing lows for amateur golfers seeking PGA membership.
“Everybody wants the same thing, and not everybody can have it,” Loupe said. “It’s competitive and it’s what you play for. It’s fun and everybody is trying to make it to the ng stage last week by winning his pre-qualifying tournament with a cumulative 7-under par score at the Golf Club of Dallas./p
By winning the pre-qualifying stage, Loupe will advance to the first stage at span data-scayt_word=”Kinderlou” data-scaytid=”4″Kinderlou/span Forest Golf Club in span data-scayt_word=”Valdosta” data-scaytid=”5″Valdosta/span, Ga., on Oct. 24./p
“It was a good start,” Loupe said. “Obviously each stage gets a little more difficult due to the level of competition and the number of spots, but so far, so span data-scayt_word=”good.”” data-scaytid=”6″>good.”
Peterson begins his trek towards his professional status Oct. 18 at Deerwood Golf Course in Kingwood, Texas. Peterson was exempt from the pre-qualifying stage.
If Loupe and Peterson were able to achieve PGA status, they would considerably improve LSU’s profile in professional golf, which is lacking outside of tour stalwart David Toms.
The only other LSU golfers presently on a professional tour are Brian Bateman and Scott Sterling.
Toms is easily the most successful professional golfer to come from LSU, with 13 PGA Tour wins to his name.
But Toms’ influence on Peterson and Loupe extends beyond just having the same alma mater.
“I’m constantly talking to [Toms], he’s been a great help,” Peterson said. “[Toms] said, ‘You know, treat it like any other tournament.’ Obviously I’ve got the game to do it, if I just don’t beat myself up too much, he said I’ll have no problem going through. I’ve just got to keep working on