Andrew Beckler earned his spot in this week's Korn Ferry Tour event in Missouri through a tough Monday qualifier. How he hopes to attack this week.
TOPEKA — Monday qualifiers in professional golf are birdie fests. They are practically 18-hole sprints to see who can nail the most birdies and qualify for a PGA or Korn Ferry Tour event.
This week, Topeka’s Andrew Beckler went on a heater in the Korn Ferry Tour Monday qualifier. He nailed four birdies inside the first seven holes. On the back nine, he added an eagle and two more birdies to finish bogey-free at 8-under par.
“You know that you need to play well or you're going home,” Beckler said. “Grinding out an even par round isn’t going to do it. It honestly frees you up a little bit. I have to go for some things here. When I went for some things, they went my way.”
The Monday qualifier granted the top four players admission into this week’s Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Hiland Dairy Foods on the Korn Ferry Tour, the developmental tour for the PGA.
The problem for Beckler? Four other players also reached 8-under, forcing a playoff.
The sudden-death playoff went to three holes, where Beckler drained an 8-foot birdie putt to qualify for this week's professional golf event in Springfield, Mo.
“Usually shooting 64 feels pretty smooth and easy, but when four other guys shoot the same score, it makes your day a little bit tougher,” Beckler laughed. “It makes it more nerve-wracking.”
Beckler will tee off at 9:12 a.m. in the first round of the competition on Thursday, July 17.
It’s been tough in recent weeks for Beckler; his golf hasn’t been exactly where he wants it. The former Washburn Rural and Washburn University standout shared that it’s been a struggle at times this season, but a simple mental switch has helped turn things around.
“I wasn’t hitting the ball great and I wasn’t really trusting my swing,” he said. “I started talking to some people on my team and what was going on and they all steered me towards being positive and keeping things simple.”
POST ROUND BEVERAGE WITH BECKLER
— Andrew Beckler Tracker (@BecklerTracker) July 15, 2025
Korn Ferry Tour Monday Qualifier
🔥🔥Bogey Free, -8, 64🔥🔥
Via a 5 for 4 Playoff, HE IS IN‼️
🚨Playing in this weeks @KornFerryTour Price Cutter Championship is Topeka’s very own @lilbecks3 🚨 pic.twitter.com/7zv72v9uIj
This week’s tournament will be played at Highland Springs Country Club. It’s a place where Beckler feels comfortable.
Three years ago, Beckler qualified for the same tournament via a Monday qualifier. He made the cut and finished in a tie for 74th place.
“I’m confident that I can play well here and I love the golf course,” Beckler said. “There are a lot of gettable holes and you have to shoot like 30-under to win the thing. It’s the same Monday qualifier mindset, you have to go out and make a bunch of birdies.”
After this week's event, Beckler shared he will turn his attention to hitting Q-School for the Korn Ferry Tour. The qualifying series begins in September for reaching the Korn Ferry Tour.
But, Beckler also wants to try and give the DP World Tour a go. The DP World Tour, also known as the European Tour, features some of the best golfers in the world. Their qualifying tournaments are in the fall, too. Beckler shared that he’d never been to Europe before, and it would be a great opportunity to travel and play the sport he loves.
For now, his attention is solely on the tournament in southwest Missouri. His goal is simple, one his dad has always preached to him.
“Somebody is going to win the tournament,” Beckler said. “It might as well be you. That’s my mindset this week.”
Liam Keating covers high school sports for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka's Andrew Beckler qualifies for Korn Ferry Tour event
Category: General Sports
