Former CU teammates Justin Biwer and Dylan McDermott finish 1-2 in a PGA Tour Q-school ‘Pre-Qualifying’ tourney; Castle Rock’s Collin Engelhardt also advances to ‘First Stage’
By Gary Baines – 9/19/2025
Two mainstays of the University of Colorado men’s golf team for the past four years — along with a Colorado resident who advanced to the final stage of U.S. Open qualifying in June — took the first step in PGA Tour Q-school this week.
In fact, one of them earned medalist honors on Friday in a “Pre-Qualifying” tournament, and another finished second.
Former Buff Justin Biwer finished first out of 71 players in Woodland, Calif. — and ex-teammate Dylan McDermott was runner-up — to emphatically earn spots in what is named the “First Stage” of Q-school.
Biwer made an eagle, five birdies and a bogey on Friday to close with a 6-under-par 66 and give him a 14-under-par total for three rounds. His 69-67-66 run was good for a four-stroke “win” over his fellow former Buff. For three rounds, Biwer carded an eagle, 17 birdies and five bogeys.
McDermott followed up a first-round 71 with a 68 and a 67 to check in at 10 under par overall. He went bogey-free on Friday.
Biwer and McDermott ranked 1-2 for CU in season stroke average all four of their years as Buffs, with Biwer leading the way three times and McDermott once.
Meanwhile on Friday, amateur Collin Engelhardt of Castle Rock, who made it to U.S. Open final qualifying this year, joined Biwer and McDermott in advancing to the First Stage as he tied for 16th place (71-71-68).
The Pre Qualifying tournament in California was one of five held this week. Three more are set for next week.
A total of 14 four-round First Stage tournaments are planned for next month, starting on Oct. 7, 14 and 21. Five Second Stage events are set for Dec. 2-5. And the Final Stage of Q-school is scheduled for Dec. 11-14 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
The top five finishers in the Final Stage will earn 2026 PGA Tour cards. The rest of the top 40 and ties will land some exempt status on the Korn Ferry Tour for next year, while the remaining finishers will have conditional status.
Here are the results for players with strong Colorado ties in PGA Tour Q-school this week:
Woodland, Calif. Sept. 17-19 (Top 37 and Ties Advance to First Stage)
1. Former CU golfer Justin Biwer 69-67-66–202
2. Former CU golfer Dylan McDermott 71-68-67—206
16. Collin Engelhardt, Castle Rock 71-71-68–210
Failed to Advance
51. Jake Francis, Watkins 75-71-76—222
Kannapolis, N.C. Sept. 17-19) (Top 39 and Ties Advance to First Stage)
Failed to Advance
65. Former DU golfer Tucker Clark 74-75-71–220
For all the scores from Q-school tournaments, CLICK HERE.
About the Writer: Gary Baines has covered golf in Colorado continuously since 1983. He was a sports writer at the Daily Camera newspaper in Boulder, then the sports editor there, and has written regularly for ColoradoGolf.org since 2009. The University of Colorado Evans Scholar alum was inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 2022. He owns and operates ColoradoGolfJournal.com