Monday Qualifiers: Sanderson Farms Championship

The Sanderson Farms Championship qualifier ended Monday in a 3-for-2 playoff between PGA TOUR veteran Kyle Reifers, Quade Cummins, and Wilson Furr.

Cummins, a former Oklahoma standout who finished sixth of this year's PGA TOUR University rankings, made eagle to clinch the first playoff spot after bogeying the 17th hole of regulation at Deerfield Golf Club in Canton, Mississippi.

“The 17th is one of the tougher holes out there, and with how the greens were, you’re going to pay if you’re out of position,” Cummins, a member of this year's victorious U.S. Walker Cup team, told PGATOUR.COM. “I was very stressed after that bogey because I knew 5 under had a small chance to qualify. Luckily it held throughout the day to give me a chance in a playoff.”

Reifers birdied the fifth hole of the playoff to earn the final spot and while eliminating Furr.

Grant Hirschman and Sam Saunders were co-medalists after shooting 65 respectively.

Hirschman, a fellow Oklahoma alum, shot 6 under on the back nine after a slow start to the day.

“I hit really nice on the front nine but just couldn’t get a putt to fall. I made an eagle putt on 10 that changed the momentum of the round, seeing a putt roll in and then get to 3 under through 10. I kept the pedal down on the back nine and stayed aggressive,” Hirschman told PGATOUR.COM.

Hirschman is coming off his first full season on the Korn Ferry Tour and is starting to hone his craft as a professional golfer.

“I’d say I learned to stick true to my own game and not shy away from that. It’s easy to chase speed or change your game to match what seems right. In reality, what makes me a great golfer is sticking to my own game and game plan week in and week out.”

Qualifiers

Grant Hirschman (65)
Age: 26
College: University of Oklahoma
Turned pro: 2018
PGA TOUR starts: 1
Cuts made: 1
PGA TOUR earnings: $14,190
Notes: Hirschman will play his first PGA TOUR event since the 2018 FedEx St. Jude Classic. Played 18 events on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2018, recording a pair of top-10 finishes, including a T4 finish at the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr. Pepper. Played a full season on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020-21, finishing in the top-10 twice and top-25 five times. Was part of the Oklahoma’s 2017 NCAA Championship-winning team and claimed three victories during his college career. He was 2018 Big 12 individual champion. Ranked 746th in the Official World Golf Rankings.

Sam Saunders (65)
Age: 34
College: Clemson University
Turned pro: 2009
PGA TOUR starts: 156
Cuts made: 72
PGA TOUR earnings: $3,474,499
Notes: Saunders rebounds this week after missing the Fortinet Championship Monday qualifier in a playoff. Has spent five full seasons on the PGA TOUR since 2010. Finished T2 in the 2015 Puerto Rico Open after losing in a playoff. Supports the Arnold and Winnie Palmer Hospital. Ranked 1,594th in the Official World Golf Rankings.

Quade Cummins (67)
Age: 25
College: University of Oklahoma
Turned pro: 2020
PGA TOUR starts: 3
Cuts made: 2
Earnings: $15,680
Notes: Finished sixth in this year's inaugural PGA TOUR University rankings and was a member of the United States' victorious Walker Cup team. Will make his fourth career start on the PGA TOUR at the Sanderson Farms Championship. Finished T67 at the 2020 Mayakoba Golf Classic presented by UNIFIN while still an amateur. Finished T58 at the 2021 Fortinet Championship in his first start of the season. Finished the 2021 Forme Tour season with back-to-back top-10s at the Auburn University Club Invitational and L&J Golf Championship at Jennings Mill Country Club. Won the 2016 Oklahoma Amateur and was a two-time Oklahoma 4A state golf champion (2013 and 2015). Ranked 1,243rd in the Official World Golf Rankings.

Kyle Reifers (67)
Age: 37
College: Wake Forest
Turned pro: 2006
PGA TOUR starts: 161
Cuts made: 86
PGA TOUR earnings: $4,061,553
Notes: Reifers will make his third PGA TOUR start since 2018. Has played five full seasons on the PGA TOUR since 2006. Has placed in the top-10 eight times in his career, including a second-place finish in the 2015 Barracuda Championship after losing in a playoff to J.J. Henry. Won the 2006 Chattanooga Classic on the Korn Ferry Tour, defeating nine-time PGA TOUR winner Brandt Snedeker in a playoff. Won the 2004 Ohio State Amateur and was a member of the United States' 2005 Walker Cup team. Ranked 633rd in the Official World Golf Rankings.

Notes

Notables who missed qualifying: Jonathan Byrd, Byeong Hun An, Blayne Barber, Erik Compton, Vaughn Taylor, Curtis Luck, Andrew Loupe, Aaron Baddeley, Bo Hoag, Mark Hubbard, Beau Hossler, Austin Eckroat, and Ben Crane.

2021-2022 Monday Qualifier statistics

Last event’s qualifier result (Fortinet Championship): Kristoffer Ventura (MC), Justin Suh (T58), Joshua McCarthy (MC), and Michael Kim (MC)

Total money earned by Monday qualifiers on TOUR this season: $15,680

Best finish of the 2021-2022 season by a Monday qualifier: Justin Suh (T58, Fortinet Championship)

Next Monday qualifier: Shiners Hospitals for Children Open at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nevada (October 4, 2021)