Kevin Prise, PGATOUR.COM
Toni Hakula Monday qualified for the Veritex Bank Championship. (Enrique Berardi/Getty Images)
Toni Hakula led the way at Monday’s open qualifier for the inaugural Veritex Bank Championship, blistering Trophy Club CC to the tune of 10-under 62 and earning a spot in this week’s field at Texas Rangers GC in Arlington, Texas.
Hakula, who resides in Austin, Texas, began his round Monday with six consecutive birdies and didn’t let up. He added four more birdies on the day, and he refrained from recording a single over-par score.
The University of Texas alum, 29, is set for his fourth career Korn Ferry Tour start, his first since the 2019 Pinnacle Bank Championship presented by Aetna.
The Finland native has spent time on both PGA TOUR Latinoamerica and the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada throughout his eight-year professional career, and he captured his first TOUR-sanctioned title at the 2018 Bupa Match Play, the first match-play event in the history of PGA TOUR Latinoamerica.
Hakula was also a member of the Longhorns’ 2012 NCAA Championship-winning team, with teammates including Jordan Spieth, Dylan Frittelli and Cody Gribble.
Also advancing from the Trophy Club CC site were Jorge Fernandez-Valdes (64), Sean Jacklin (65) and Billy Tom Sargent (66). Sargent survived a 7-for-1 playoff with Jordan Hahn, Patrick Flavin, Chandler Eaton, Hayden Springer, Braden Bailey and Denzel Ieremia.
Jared du Toit, Zack Fischer and Luke Gannon shared medalist honors at The Bridges GC, each carding 7-under 65 to secure tee times this week in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Kolton Lapa (66) earned the site’s final spot, surviving a 6-for-1 playoff with Danny Walker, Blake Pugh, Grady Brame Jr., Jake McCrory and Jeffrey Swegle.
In all, 276 players competed for eight spots in this week’s field at Texas Rangers GC.
For all scores from Trophy Club CC, click here.
For all scores from The Bridges GC, click here.
Click here for the original article on PGATour.com.
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Founded (1990), owned and operated by the PGA TOUR, the Korn Ferry Tour identifies and develops those players who are ready to compete and win on golf’s biggest stage. In 2013, the Korn Ferry Tour became The Path to the PGA TOUR with all 50 available PGA TOUR cards coming through the Tour and the season culminating at the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. This season marks the 31st year of competition on the Korn Ferry Tour. Three out of four PGA TOUR members are Korn Ferry Tour alumni. Tour alumni have won more than 500 PGA TOUR titles, including 24 major championships and eight PLAYERS Championships. To learn more about the PGA TOUR, the Korn Ferry Tour and to follow the season-long quest for a PGA TOUR card, visit PGATOUR.COM, or follow the Tour on social media via Instagram (@KornFerryTour), Twitter (@KornFerryTour) and Facebook (facebook.com/KornFerryTour).
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