Nate Stember, a Portland Native Qualifies for 12 events on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2025

PORTLAND, Oregon – Nate Stember, the Portland native had quite the December earning 12 starts on the Kerry Ferry Tour in 2025.

Last Sunday, Stember placed T19, shooting even, at the PGA Tour Q-School Final Stage in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, at TPC Sawgrass—Valley. The top five placers plus ties earned their PGA Tour cards.

But the top 20 finish, guaranteed Stember, starts in the first 12 events of the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour season.

Stember attended Lincoln High School, then played for the University of Oregon men’s golf team where he graduated in 2024. He won an individual Oregon 6A state title as a junior at Emerald Valley Golf Club.

He remained an amateur through this summer and played in the Southern Amateur, Pacific Coast Amateur, and US Amateur. Q-School was the first event he played as a professional.

Q-School consists of four stages: pre-qualifying, 1st stage, 2nd stage and final stage.

“I was exempt through pre-qualifying because I had status on PGA Tour Americas over the summer,” Stember said. “My Q-school journey began at 1 of 13, 1st stage sites around the country. I played in Abilene, TX, at Abilene Country Club. I played great all week fueled by a mental shift in my game to put 100% of my focus on the shot in front of me and to stay in the moment as best I could. I finished tied for 1st place which earned me full status on the Latin American swing of PGA Tour Americas in 2025 and a spot in 1 of the 5, 2nd stage sites.”

Stember shot 16-under at the Abilene Country Club first stage qualifier which was October 22-25.

The second stage qualifier that Stember played in was December 3-6 at Valencia Country Club in Valencia, California where he shot 10-under.

“After an opening round of 5 under 67 I stalled a bit with two rounds of even par 72,” Stember said. “This put me right on the cut line (top 15) going into the final round. Propelled by a hot putter, I shot a 6 under 30 on the front nine en route to a final round 67. This placed me in 6th and earned me a spot in the Final Stage in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

“Getting to Florida was a huge accomplishment and it guaranteed me some sort of Korn Ferry status for 2025. However, I still needed to finish in the top 45 out of 170 players to receive guaranteed starts on the Korn Ferry. This field is full of players who played on the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry last season so it was not an easy task.”

After the first three rounds at the Final Stage which was December 12-15, Stember was in ninth place going into the final round.

“I got off to a great start with a bogey-free round of 2 under and, amid tough conditions in rounds 2 and 3, was sitting in ninth place going into the final round. With the top 5 players receiving PGA Tour cards, there was a lot to play for. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my best stuff in the final round but grinded out a round of 1 over and finished in 19th place. This earned me 12 guaranteed Korn Ferry Tour starts in 2025.

“Getting through Q school is a massive step in my career, and now I have a real opportunity to make some money on the Korn Ferry Tour and a direct pathway to the PGA Tour. I couldn’t be more excited about what is to come!”

Stember will play his first Korn Ferry Tour event on January 12-15, at The Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island.

“Definitely didn’t expect to have this much success so fast but it is really encouraging to know I’m good enough to compete against these guys.” Stember said.