By Craig Campbell, Dundas
With a second straight two-under-par performance in the first stage of PGA Tour qualification, Dundas’ Mackenzie Hughes walked off the course after the second round sitting in a ninth place tie with a total score of four-under-par.
Hughes was six strokes behind the leader with two more rounds to play at The Club at Irish Creek in Kannapolis, North Carolina.
About 20 players from the 78-person field are expected to advance to the second stage. A third and final stage remains after that, with the top 25 expected to receive PGA tour membership. Each stage is four rounds of 18 holes.
Wednesday afternoon, Hughes mirrored Tuesday’s first round score of two-under 69, this time picking up three birdies and one bogey in the front nine plus a birdie and a bogey in the back nine.
The Kent State University and Highland Secondary School graduate closed a successful amateur golf career with a strong performance at the World Amateur Team Championship in Turkey, earlier this month, and began a quest to reach the top of the professional circuit.
Hughes, a Dundas native and Highland Secondary School graduate, shot four under par over three rounds at the world championship to finish tied for 19th place out of 215 international amateur golfers. He was the top Canadian and lead the nation’s team to a sixth place finish in a field of 72 countries – Canada’s best finish since a 2006 second place performance in the event held every two years.
If he qualifies to move on in the PGA qualifying process, known as Q-School, Hughes will play the second qualifying stage starting Nov. 13, in an effort to qualify for the final stage Nov. 28 to Dec. 2 in California. The top 25 players in that final stage tournament are expected to be offered spots on the PGA Tour. Other top finishers below those 25 could earn professional membership on the Nationwide Tour or Web.com Tour.
There are opportunities to support Hughes’ effort to reach the PGA Tour through investments in the Mackenzie Hughes Limited Partnership. There are up to 25 shares available at $5,000 a year based on a three-year commitment.
More information on the Mackenzie Hughes Limited Partnership is available from Don Robertson at 905-572-0063 or Don@comchoice.ca
Follow Hughes on Twitter (machughes10) and facebook.
