Monday qualifiers: AT&T Byron Nelson

Texas has proved fruitful again for a couple of guys who will garner great strength and confidence from the fact that the last time they survived the Monday examination they did so with Corey Conners … the man who proved you can win on the PGA TOUR even if it starts at Monday Qualifying.

Just a few weeks back Conners got through qualifying before going on to win the Valero Texas Open. Also getting through that week were two-time PGA TOUR runner-up Roland Thatcher and Texas native Zack Fischer. Those two shot 5-under 67s on Monday at Sky Creek Ranch Golf Club to book their tickets into the AT&T Byron Nelson at Trinity Forest this week. They’ll be joined by TOUR debutants Derek Oland and Australian Todd Balkin.

Thatcher missed the cut at the Valero Texas Open but Fischer was T14. Here’s a closer look at the four AT&T Byron Nelson qualifiers.

DEREK OLAND (66)
Age: 26
Hometown: McKinney, Texas
Alma mater: Midwestern State
PGA TOUR starts: Debut
Notes: Made 15 of 16 cuts on the All Pro Tour in 2018 with a Tour leading 10 top-10s to be fourth on the money list… Currently 16th on the same Tour’s money list in 2019… Is conditionally exempt on the PGA TOUR Latinoamerica but has yet to get a start… Was the first two-time winner of the Marie Morgan Award as MSU’s most outstanding male student-athlete… Was an All-American in Junior year 2014.

ROLAND THATCHER (67)
Age: 41
Hometown: Hampton, Virginia
Alma mater: Auburn University
PGA TOUR starts: 153
Cuts Made: 62
Best Finish:2nd – 2010 Children’s Miracle Disney Championship; T2 - 2009 Buick Open.
Notes: Valero Texas Open earlier this year was first TOUR start since 2012… Has over $3.6million in career earnings on the PGA TOUR… Currently ranked 1,196th in the world…. All-SEC honors all four years in college… Has three Web.com Tour wins, two came in July 2007… Played in the 2003 U.S. Open.

ZACK FISCHER (67)
Age: 32
Hometown: Texarkana, Texas
Alma mater: University of Texas - Arlington
PGA TOUR starts: 5
Cuts Made: 2
Best Finish: T14, 2019 Valero Texas Open
Notes: Recent start at Valero Texas Open was best-ever TOUR finish… Had four starts on the PGA TOUR in 2013 including the U.S. Open… Played Web.com Tour with limited success from 2014-17 with just six top-10s from 89 starts… Currently ranked 1,048th in the world… Would include Byron Nelson, Harry Vardon, and Lee Trevino in his dream foursome.

TODD BALKIN (67)
Age: 28
Hometown: Sunshine Coast, Australia
Alma mater: Oklahoma Baptist University
PGA TOUR starts: Debut
Notes: An Australian native who is an assistant golf pro at Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas… In five starts in the Northern Texas PGA Professional Winter Series this year his worst finish is 15th.