List, Mitchell in Q-school second stage

Somebody stopped Luke List in the parking lot as he prepared to leave the golf course.

They asked if List had a bad day.

Nope. In fact, quite the opposite. List tied for fifth with a 72-hole 284 at Pinewild Country Club at Pinehurst, N.C., during the first stage of PGA Tour qualifying school. He advanced to the second stage.

His matter-of-fact mannerism at the time gave a friend the wrong impression. Instead of jubilation, List saw it as just another day at the office.

"My goal the last couple of years was to get to the final stage and maybe get some status," said List, who starred at Baylor School and Vanderbilt. "This year I'm setting the bar pretty high. I have a little different approach."

List is attempting to earn a spot on the PGA Tour through Q-school for the third time in his young career. Former McCallie and Georgia All-American Adam Mitchell is attempting Q-school for the first time since turning professional in October.

Both advanced through the first stage Oct. 27-30 at Pinewild with Mitchell tying for eighth at 286 after entering the final round one shot off the cut line.

"I just tried to keep it like any other tournament and not make it that big of a deal," Mitchell said by phone. "You want to play well and get your career off to a good start. I've tried not to put too much pressure on myself, but there is pressure because it's a new experience and something I've never done before."

List and Mitchell will continue their quests for a PGA Tour card with competition today in the second of three stages. Michael Clark II of Dalton and John Kimbell of LaFayette, Ga., also have earned spots in the second stage. Bryce Ledford of Ooltewah and Thomas Smith of Chattanooga did not advance from the first stage.

List will be playing at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. Clark, Kimbell and Mitchell will play four rounds at Callaway Gardens-Mountain View Golf Course at Pine Mountain, Ga. The number of qualifying positions from each site will be announced during the tournament.

Usually, a top-20 finish advances a player to the grueling six-day final stage at Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach.

"The last two times I went through Q-school I built it up into what everybody thinks it is," List said via cell phone. "But my game and my attitude have grown a lot, and my mindset as a player has matured.

"This year, my mind-frame was to win first stage. Now my goal is to win second stage, then win final stage and be on the PGA Tour."

Mitchell is shooting for the stars as well.

"If my goal wasn't to make it through and be on the PGA Tour, then I'm not where I need to be," he said. "But how I play this week is not going to impact my long-term goals. Maybe where I play next year, but it's not going to impact what happens five years from now."