Golf

Friday Fore-Cast: Blistering Start at Q-School For Shaun; Finau Out at Grant Thornton

Published: Dec 13, 2024, 7:28 AM
4 min read
Updated: Aug 18, 2025, 3:15 PM
Corey Shaun tees off on the eighth hole during the first round of PGA TOUR Q-School

Corey Shaun tees off on the eighth hole during the first round of PGA TOUR Q-School (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

"Friday Fore-cast" prepares you for golf's major tours heading into the weekend. PGA Professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, provides his insights for RG. In this installment, Elliott looks at the first round of PGA TOUR Q-School Finals, Tony Finau’s Withdrawal from the Grant Thornton, and the return of a beloved silly season event.

Corey Shaun Sets Pace with Competitive Course Record

In a dream start to PGA TOUR Q-School Finals, Corey Shaun shattered expectations by setting a new competitive course record at TPC Sawgrass's Valley Course. Shaun's opening round of 61 positioned him at the top of the leaderboard and comfortably five shots clear of his nearest chaser. This remarkable round has placed him in a promising position as he aims to secure PGA TOUR status for 2025. How impressive was his round? He bested the field average for the opening round by over ten shots on the Valley course.

Talking with the media, Shaun reflected on his round:
"To start the year, I was playing pretty poorly, and as a result, I was just always trying to figure out what can I do better, what can I do better. As kind of an analytical golfer, I was trying to like just try stuff every single day, try something new. Sometimes it's OK, but it's not really probably the most optimal way to be thinking at a tournament, like competing against elite professionals. I think since (PGA TOUR Q-School's First Stage), I've more or less had the same swing thought, like very similar, just trying to dial it in a little bit. Once I kind of figured that out, it's like … every shot I hit, I don't have to worry about what position am I trying to hit right now."
Chasers and Notables

Chasing Corey Shaun is Richy Werenski in solo second, five shots back after opening with a 4-under par 66. Six back are four players at 3-under par including Cooper Musselman, Ryan McCormick, Lanto Griffin, and Callum Tarren.

Notables include Doc Redman and Austin Cook at 2-under par, Sangmoon Bae at even par, and Luke Guthrie at 1-over par. Struggling out of the gate are known names such as Nick Watney (2-over), Sam Bennett (4-over), Sean O'Hair (4-over), Pierceson Coody (6-over), and Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey (6-over).

Other News and Notes

Finau Out, Berger In at Grant Thornton

On Thursday, Tony Finau announced his withdrawal from the Grant Thornton Invitational, which takes place today through Sunday at the Tiburón Golf Club in Naples, FL. Daniel Berger will replace him and compete alongside Nelly Korda in the mixed-team collaboration between the PGA and LPGA Tours.

Finau had to miss last week's Hero World Challenge due to ongoing recovery from recent knee surgery.

Tony Finau statement
"I am disappointed to have to withdraw from the Grant Thornton Invitational as I continue to recover from my knee injury. Playing with Nelly in 2023 was one of the highlights of my year. I look forward to cheering her on this week and am thankful for her support and understanding as I work on getting fully healthy. I'm grateful to my partner in Grant Thornton for their support and for diversifying our game by bringing the PGA TOUR and LPGA together in Naples. I look forward to returning to competition in the new year!"
The Skins Game Returning in 2025

Pro Shop, a pioneering golf media and commerce company, announced an exclusive partnership with the PGA TOUR on Thursday to relaunch the beloved television franchise, "The Skins Game." Set to return on Black Friday 2025, this iconic event will weave its celebrated tradition into a vibrant, modern format designed for today's passionate fans. Pro Shop has joined forces with Propagate Content to develop and produce this made-for-TV spectacle, merging Pro Shop's mastery of golf storytelling and industry connections with Propagate Content's excellence in delivering outstanding entertainment.

Chad Mumm, the co-founder of Pro Shop, said the following to the media regarding this exciting development:

"The Skins Game embodies everything we strive for at Pro Shop — celebrating the rich traditions of golf while creating premium entertainment that resonates with today's modern audience. We're thrilled to partner with Propagate and the PGA TOUR to reimagine this legendary competition, blending the game's storied history with fresh energy and excitement for a new generation of fans."
Lead Golf Writer
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA, is the lead golf writer for RG.org, bringing 30 years of experience as a PGA professional and respected golf journalist. Based in Florida, he has covered top events such as the Masters and PGA Championship and interviewed legends such as Jack Nicklaus and Annika Sorenstam. A member of the Golf Writers Association of America, Elliott contributes to major outlets including PGA.com, GolfWRX and MyGolfSpy. He is also the founder of the BE A GOLFER Academy and executive director of a nonprofit supporting youth golf. His work blends elite instruction, media expertise and a passion for developing the game.
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