Q-school: Champions Tour preview

REGIONAL QUALIFYING STAGE

The Champions Tour q-school regional qualifying stage begins Oct. 25. It is contested over 72 holes. The field size at each Regional Qualifying Stage site is scheduled to be approximately 78 players.

• Florida Regional is playing for 17 spots plus two alternates
• Texas Regional is playing for 16 spots plus two alternates
• Nevada Regional is playing for 16 spots plus two alternates

CLICK HERE FOR FULL REGIONAL QUALIFYING FIELDS

Tuesday-Friday, Oct. 25-28
Woodforest Golf Club at Fish Creek
Montgomery, Texas

NOTABLE PLAYERS IN THE FIELD

Brad Bell, Sacramento, Calif. -- Looking to join former UCLA teammates Corey Pavin, Tom Pernice Jr. and Steve Pate as fully-exempt Champions Tour member.

Kevin Culligan, Burke, Va. -- His grandfather's brother, Emmett Culligan, founded the Culligan Water Company.

Steve Gotsche, Great Bend, Kan. -- A two-time winner on the Nationwide Tour who has qualified for nine U.S. Open Championships.

Mike Harwood, Australia -- A multiple European and Australasian Tour winner. Winner on the European Senior Tour this year. Finished runner-up to Ian Baker-Finch at 1991 British Open at Royal Birkdale.

Hunter Huang, Atlanta, Ga. -- Started playing golf in 2000 after a career in biotechnology and computer sciences.

Kris Moe, Glen Ellen, Calif. -- Played as a professional in over 20 countries and currently owns a winery called "19th Hole".

Miguel Angel Martin, Spain -- Former European Tour winner who was the first continental player to reach 500 starts on the European Tour in 2005.

Rick Pendergast, Clovis, Calif. -- A cancer survivor who raises money to fight the disease. His wife, Kim Stephens, is a news anchor in Fresno.

Jim Ragland, St. Johns, Fla. -- His son, Toby, is attempting the PGA TOUR Qualifying School and they hope to be the first father/son duo to make it through Champions Tour/PGA TOUR Qualifying School in the same year.

Michael Son, Canada -- Is a three-time North American Tae Kwon Do champion whose brother, Myung Soo Son, is a famous Tae Kwon Do Grand Master.

Vic Wilk, Las Vegas, Nev. -- Was the first left-handed player to win a Nationwide Tour event (1994 Knoxville Open).

Wednesday-Saturday, Oct. 26-29
Walt Disney World Resort -- Palm Course
Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

NOTABLE PLAYERS IN THE FIELD

Ben Bates, Pensacola, Fla. -- Holds records for most career starts (410) and most cuts made (226) on the Nationwide Tour.

Ken Barnard, Orlando, Fla. -- Related to Christian Barnard who performed the first-ever human heart transplant operation.

Ahmad Bateman, Orlando, Fla. -- Is currently head professional at The Empire Hotel & CC in Brunei. Once held Nationwide Tour record for longest birdie-eagle streak (9-under at 1996 Utah Classic).

Mark Bucek, Winter Springs, Fla. -- Currently a Publix stock clerk who caddied for six years on the PGA TOUR.

Angel Franco, Palm City, Fla. -- Brother of four-time PGA TOUR winner Carlos Franco.

Thomas Fike, Murray, Ky. -- Grew up playing in local and high school events with current Champions Tour stars Kenny Perry and Russ Cochran.

Jeff Freeman, Windermere, Fla. -- Brother of Robin Freeman who is attempting qualifying in Nevada.

Bob Mattiace, Jacksonville, Fla. -- Brother of two-time PGA TOUR winner Len Mattiace.

Primm Valley Golf Club -- Lakes Course
Primm, Nev.

NOTABLE PLAYERS IN THE FIELD

Stuart Adams, Lake Havasu City, Ariz. -- Might become the second-most famous optometrist on the Champions Tour after 29-time winner Gil Morgan.

Patrick Burke, Coto De Caza, Calif. -- Former PGA TOUR member and Australasian Tour winner.

Mike Barnblatt, Rancho Mirage, Calif. -- Shot course-record 60 at Mission Hills Palmer Course in July last year.

Raymond Caldwell, San Antonio, Texas -- Shot 60 to tie course-record at Breckenridge GC that was set in the 1955 Texas Open.

Robin Freeman, La Quinta, Calif. -- Former PGA TOUR member who has played on all three Tours. His brother, Jeff, is attempting to qualify at the Florida site.

Jeff Hart, Solana Beach, Calif. -- Finished T6 at the recent AT&T Championship to earn $65,000 and is guaranteed a spot in the field at the 2012 Allianz Championship.

Phil Jonas, Canada -- Played golf at Lamar University with Champions Tour member Trevor Dodds. Has multiple wins in Canada and South America.

John Miosi, Clarence, N.Y. -- Golf will be the third sport he has played professionally, following baseball and racquetball.

Jack Nicklaus II, North Palm Beach, Fla. -- Son of World Golf Hall of Fame member Jack Nicklaus and President of Nicklaus Golf Course Design.

FINAL QUALIFYING STAGE

The final qualifying stage begins Nov. 15. It is contested over 72 holes. The field size at the Final Qualifying Stage is scheduled to be 78 players.

Tuesday-Friday, Nov. 15-18
TPC Scottsdale -- Champions Course
Scottsdale, Ariz.

Final Qualifying Stage Exemptions: The following shall be exempt into the Final Qualifying Stage.

a. The top five finishers (positions 1 - 5) in the 2011 Senior PGA Professional National Championship.
b. The leading available player (to a floor of fifth position) on the 2011 European Seniors Tour Order of Merit through Oct. 16, 2011.
c. The leading available player (to a floor of fifth position) on the 2011 Japan Golf Tour Organization Seniors Tour Order of Merit through Oct. 16, 2011.
d. Those players not otherwise exempt who are in the Top 75 on the 2011 Champions Tour Official Money List through Oct. 16, 2011.
e. Those players not otherwise exempt who are in the Top 75 of the 2011 Champions Tour All-Time Money List through Oct. 16, 2011.
f. 2010 Forward: On a two-time only basis, players who (i) have won an official event (awarding official money and official victory status, excluding team events) on the PGA TOUR or the Champions Tour, or are a PGA TOUR Veteran Member (i.e., have a minimum of 150 career cuts in official money PGA TOUR events); and (ii) are 50 years of age or older, or will turn age 50 on or before the day of the first tournament obligation of the last five (5) or 20% (whichever is greater) full-field open tournaments of the 2012 season.

Prize Money: Prize money will be distributed among the top 30 finishers and those tied for 30th place at the Champions Tour National Qualifying Final Tournament. The winner will receive $30,000.

NOTABLE PLAYERS IN THE FINALS

Peter Fowler, Auckland, New Zealand -- Former European and Australasian Tour winner and current European Senior Tour winner. His daughter, Georgia, is a full-time model with IMG Models.

Chris Perry, Powell, Ohio -- Played at Ohio State with current Champions Tour member Joey Sindelar. One-time winner on both the Nationwide Tour and PGA TOUR. Holds record for most consecutive cuts made on nationwide Tour (31). Father (Jim) and Uncle (Gaylord) are both baseball legends.

Stan Utley, Scottsdale, Ariz. -- Former Nationwide Tour and PGA TOUR winner who is currently ranked as one of the nations top-50 golf instructors by Golf Digest.

Joel Edwards, Irving, Texas -- Former winner on both the PGA TOUR and Nationwide Tour who has $4.5 million in career earnings.