Former UTC golfer Paul Conroy

photo from GoMocs.com

Former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga golfer Paul Conroy on Friday became the second member of last year’s Mocs team to advance in the PGA Tour Q-School First Stage standings, joining teammate John Houk, who won a spot last week.

The native of Enniscorthy, Ireland, posted rounds of 74-71-66-70 to finish with a 7-under 281, good for a 14-all tie.^th while 23 golfers advanced to the Second Stage. His excellent third round at Ocala Country Club featured seven birdies, including five in a six-hole stretch to open the back nine.

Conroy, a three-time All-SoCon participant who won two events for the Mocs, made four of eight cuts in his brief stint on the PGA Tour Americas Canadian swing after completing his career at UTC, finishing 18th^th in its second opening at the end of June.

Former UTC teammate Samuel Espinosa-Trueba was not so lucky in his attempt. The Spaniard was in contention after two days at 3 under par, but rounds of 74 and 78 left him tied at 52.^{North Dakota} with 5 out of 293.

Originally scheduled for early October, the Ocala qualifier was delayed four weeks due to the impact of Hurricane Milton that devastated central Florida.

Conroy’s successful exit marks a dozen golfers with Tennessee connections who have punched their ticket to the upcoming Second Stage qualifier. Others that have previously advanced include:

David Armstrong– Former Spring Hill Lipscomb University golfer who finished second in his First Stage standings.

Kyle Cottam: former Clemson golfer who is from Knoxville.

Cross Spencer: The University of Tennessee student was a medalist in his First Stage event in Lincoln, Nebraska, earning an exemption through the Latin American Swing for the 2025 PGA Tour Americas season. The Sevierville native was first-team All-SEC his senior season in 2021-22 and has made four cuts in five career Korn Ferry Tour starts.

Jake Hall: Knoxville fan who played at Tennessee in college and won the 2023 Tennessee Amateur Championship by shooting a course-record 61 in the final round to win by four shots over Houk.

Ryan Hall: He competed at South Carolina in college and lives in Knoxville. He placed second in his First Stage tournament. It ended tied at 23^third at the PGA Tour’s Sanderson Farms Championship in October and has a top 10 in 25 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour.

John Houk: The two-time All-Region and All-SoCon player from Athens played his first two years at Tennessee Wesleyan before finishing his career as UTC’s all-time leading scorer, eclipsing the mark of reigning PGA Tour winner Stephan Jaeger.

Trevor Johnson: a Brentwood resident who played for the University of Louisville in college.

Jake Mynatt: He played collegiately at Carson-Newman and is a native of Knoxville.

Owen Stamper: Kentucky native who played collegiately at MTSU.

Scott Stevens: Former University of South Carolina golfer who competed at Chattanooga Christian while in high school. He has made 29 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour with three top-25 finishes.

Hunter Wolcott: Former UT golfer from Burns who won the 2023 Tennessee State Open 40 years after his father, Bob, claimed the title.

Second Stage qualifying will take place at five different sites. The first occurs Nov. 19-22 in Savannah, Georgia, at The Landings Club’s Deer Creek course. The remaining four events will take place December 3-6 at the following locations: RTJ Golf Trail at Highland Oaks in Dothan, Alabama; Valencia Country Club in Valencia, California; Hammock Beach Conservatory in Palm Coast, Florida, and Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta, Georgia.

Final stage qualifying will take place December 12-15 at TPC Sawgrass Valley Course and Sawgrass Country Club.

You can email Paul Payne at [email protected]