Andrew Loupe, a former Louisiana State University All-American, has won the first stage of the PGA Tour qualifying school at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Georgia.
Loupe closed with a final-round three-under-par 69 in chilly weather and biting winds on Saturday to finish on 12-under 276 for the tournament, four shots clear of Paul Apyan and Chris DeForest.
He opened his account on the first couple of days with two rounds of one-under 71, but it was his third-round seven-under 65 on Friday that really set up the victory.
"The first couple of days, I felt like I was hitting the ball well, I just wasn't finishing like I wanted to," Loupe said.
"I had to keep believing in myself and know that the putts would start to fall, and they did."
Loupe will now move on to the second stage of the PGA qualifying school in Tampa, floria in mid-November, with the third stage in California to follow in December.
golf365.com