Gonzalo Fernández Castaño did not get off to a good start in the Final Stage of the Web.com Tour Q-School, which will be held until next Sunday on the PGA National Fazio and Champion courses, habitual headquarters of the Honda Classic, PGA Tour tournament.
The Madrid native is playing in the tournament without much need to, it’s true. He has his tour card more than guaranteed and his only mission in competing in the finals is to improve his actual status. Currently, in his position, Gonzalo would have to undergo two re-rankings throughout the season, which means he’s obligated to start the season off well in order not to be cast aside when the reorganization of golfers happens according to the first scores of the year.
This being the case, he would improve his status if he were to win the final, which would give him exemption for the entire season without having to go through any type of re-ranking. It would also improve if he finishes somewhere between second place and tied for tenth place. In this case, he would only have to go through one re-ranking late in the season.
At the moment, both objectives are far from reach, although not impossible. The Final stage will be played throughout four rounds with no cut. Gonzalo started off with a round of 73 shots (+2), a somewhat weak score keeping mind all the birdies that were made. Right now, the leader is at seven under par, tenth place at five under par and 45º place at two under par. In other words, it’s time to recover and make a comeback in the three rounds left to play.
Gonzalo played on the Champion course today and tomorrow he’ll play on the Fazio. The first round proved that there isn’t much of a difference between the two, at least as far as results go.
