THE FLATS – Seven Yellow Jackets are back in action this week as the Korn Ferry Tour resumes competition … Only Vincent Whaley is competing on the PGA Tour as it resumes in the Dominican Republic … More below in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Report.
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PGA TOUR UPDATE
Many of Georgia Tech’s alumni on the PGA Tour had last weekend off having not qualified for the U.S. Open, and most of them are taking this week off as well as the Tour heads to the Dominican Republic for the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Classic.
Only Vincent Whaley, in his second season on Tour, will compete this week after opening the 2020-21 season with a solid tie for 23rd at the Safeway Open two weeks ago. The 2017 Tech graduate finished No. 188 in FedEx Cup in his rookie year, with one top-10 finish, and retains limited status.
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KORN FERRY TOUR UPDATE
Georgia Tech rising senior Noah Norton gets his first taste of a professional golf environment, albeit of the Covid-19 variety, when the Korn Ferry Tour resumes action this week with the Wichita (Kan.) Open. Norton, a two-time all-ACC performer in his Yellow Jacket career, has an exemption into the event as a winner of the Patriot Invitational last winter. The Chico, Calif., senior made it to match play in the U.S. Amateur championship in august, winning his first-round contest before falling in the round of 32.
Ollie Schniederjans, who won this event in 2016 when it was called the Air Capital Classic, has had four top-15 finishes in his last seven tournaments this summer, and now returns to the place of his inaugural Korn Ferry Tour victory. His four-year Tech teammate Anders Albertson, also working for a magic spark to get him back to the PGA Tour, has been playing the best golf of the season over the last month or so, including a T5 at the Lincoln Land Championship presented by LRS.
Also back in action after the week off are J.T. Griffin, Paul Haley II, Seth Reeves and Nicholas Thompson. Reeves is in the best position of the group to earn back his PGA Tour card, sitting solidly inside the top 25 in points (No. 16) on the strength of his victory at the Pinnacle Bank Championship and a T3 at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship. Schniederjans is No. 33, Haley II No. 34.
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LOCALiQ SERIES UPDATE
Chris Petefish has tied for 23rd, seventh, 47th and 19th in the four events played so far, and sits 16th in the points standings. He tied for 19th at the Invitational at Auburn in the series’ last event with an 11-under-par total of 205.
The LocaliQ Series, the U.S.-based tournament series designed for members of the PGA Tours in Canada, Latino America and China, has four remaining events, culminating in the LocaliQ Series Championship at Nassau, Bahamas in late October. After two weeks off, the series resumes this week with the Jacksonville (Fla.) Championship.
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PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS UPDATE
Former Master champion Larry Mize sits at 57th in Schwab Cup points following his tie for 49th place at last weekend’s PUR Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links (219, +3). The senior circuit is off for the next two weeks before resuming at the SAS Championship in Cary, N.C.
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U.S. OPEN UPDATE
Winged Foot Golf Club claimed many high-profile victims last weekend at the 120th U.S. Open Championship, including three of the four Yellow Jackets in the field. Only Chesson Hadley, who tie for ninth place at Pebble Beach the year before, made the cut and tie for 51st place with an 18-over-par total of 298.
Video recaps: Hadley | Ogletree | Kuchar
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#PROJACKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Staying at lovely @ZionRanch near @ZionNPS tonight. This is the dog bowl, I swear @KipHenley gets fed a little better in caddie dining on the @pgatour! pic.twitter.com/zYbkpqEvej
— Stewart Cink (@stewartcink) September 20, 2020
Favorite comment from @SafewayOpen came from my friend @ktaylor74’s son, regarding my club selection from the collar behind the 72nd hole: “He’s got a putter from off green. Such a Dad move.”
— Stewart Cink (@stewartcink) September 16, 2020
Ridin With Rymer is back! @CharlieRymerPGA catches up with Grammy Winner, and friend, @DanTyminski!
📺: https://t.co/1Id5Rke9v9#RidinWithRymer #MyrtleBeachGolf pic.twitter.com/MmORUGmrZk
— Myrtle Beach Golf (@MyrtleBeachGolf) September 16, 2020
First flight today since January. @delta has the plane looking all spiffy and CLEAN! Thanks to all the travel professionals that make the experience as good as it can be. 3 tips for travelers in these times…be smart, patient, and KIND. pic.twitter.com/mnqewXeN7c
— Charlie (@CharlieRymerPGA) September 15, 2020
UPCOMING EVENTS (subject to change)
- PGA Tour: Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship • September 24-27, 2020 • Corales Golf Course • Punta Cana, Dominican Republic • Purse: $4,000,000
- Korn Ferry Tour: Wichita Open • September 24-27, 2020 • Crestview Country Club • Wichita, Kan. • Purse: $600,000
- PGA Tour Champions: SAS Championship • October 9-11, 2020 • Prestonwood Country Club • Cary, N.C. • Purse: $2,100,000
- LocaliQ Series: Jacksonville Championship • September 23-25, 2020 • Hidden Hills Golf Club • Jacksonville, Fla.
- All Pro Tour: Colbert Charity Classic • September 22-24, 2020 • Colbert Hills Golf Club • Manhattan, Kan. • Purse: $120,000
- G Pro Tour: Challenge at The Creek • September 30-October 2, 2020 • The Club at Irish Creek • Kannapolis, N.C.
- SwingThought Tour: ST17-Plantation Bay Golf & Country Club • September 30-October 1, 2020 • Plantation Bay Golf & Country Club • Ormond Beach, Fla.
PLAYER PLAYER LAST WEEK DATA ANDERS ALBERTSON
Hometown: Woodstock, Ga.
Turned pro: 2015
Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-15
Status: PGA TourDid not play FedEx Cup points ranking: 236
YTD earnings: $8,760
KFT points ranking: 126
YTD earnings (KFT): $14,525
Career earnings (PGAT): $556,905
Career earnings (KFT): $929,956 STEWART CINK
Hometown: Florence, Ala.
Residence: Duluth, Ga.
Turned pro: 1995
Years at Georgia Tech: 1991-95
Status: PGA Tour/PGA Tour ChampionsPGA Tour Champions
The Ally Challenge
WonSchwab Cup points ranking: 19
YTD Earnings (Champions): $144,315
Career earnings (Champions): $787,185
FedEx Cup points ranking: 171
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $273,786
Career earnings (PGA Tour): $43,800,650 WILL DICKSON
Hometown: Providence, R.I.
Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2021
Years at Georgia Tech: 2017-21
Status: Developmental toursDid not play GPro Points ranking: 20
YTD Earnings (GPro): $4,797
Career earnings (GPro): $59,704
Points ranking (KFT): 193
YTD earnings (KFT): $4,538
Points ranking (FET): 154
YTD earnings (FET): $2,571 DAVID DUVAL
Hometown: Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Residence: Denver, Colo.
Turned pro: 1993
Years at Georgia Tech: 1989-93
Status: PGA Tour ChampionsPGA Tour Champions
The Ally Challenge
T-5Schwab Cup Points ranking: 47
YTD earnings (Champions): $251,181
Career earnings (Champions): $545,141
Career earnings (PGAT): $18,983,931 J.T. GRIFFIN
Hometown: Wilson, N.C.
Residence: Marietta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2011
Years at Georgia Tech: 2007-11
Status: Korn Ferry TourDid not play Fortinet Cup points: n/a
YTD earnings (Canada): n/a
Career earnings (Canada): $29,836
Career earnings (KFT): $187,056 CHESSON HADLEY
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
Turned pro: 2010
Years at Georgia Tech: 2006-10
Status: PGA TourDid not play FedEx Cup points ranking: 136
YTD earnings: $515,103
Career earnings: $12,239,163 SHUN YAT HAK
Hometown: Hong Kong
Turned pro: 2013
Years at Georgia Tech: 2012-13
Status: PGA Tour ChinaDid not play Fortinet Cup points: n/a
YTD earnings: n/a
Career earnings: ¥251,305 PAUL HALEY II
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Turned pro: 2011
Years at Georgia Tech: 2007-11
Status: PGA TourDid not play FedEx Cup points: 204
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $9,160
KFT points ranking: 203
YTD earnings (KFT): $9,160
Career earnings (PGAT): $837,353
Career earnings (KFT): $1,098,205 CONNOR HOWE
Hometown: Ogden, Utah
Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2023
Years at Georgia Tech: 2018-23
Status: PGA Tour CanadaDid not play KFT points ranking: 159
YTD earnings (KFT): $32,406
Fortinet Cup points ranking: n/a
YTD earnings (Canada): $n/a MATT KUCHAR
Hometown:
Lake Mary, Fla.
Residence: Sea Island, Ga.
Turned pro: 2000
Years at Georgia Tech: 1997-2000
Status: PGA TourDid not play FedEx Cup points ranking: 103
YTD earnings: $1,028,556
Career earnings (PGAT): $59,787,247 CHRISTO LAMPRECHT
Hometown: George, South Africa
Turned pro: 2024
Years at Georgia Tech: 2000-24
Status: Korn Ferry TourKorn Ferry Tour
Albertsons Boise Open
missed cutKFT points ranking: 138
YTD earnings: $32,300
Career earnings (KFT): $32,300 ANDY MAO
Hometown: Johns Creek, Ga.
Turned pro: 2024
Years at Georgia Tech: 2020-24
Status: developmental toursDid not play GPro points ranking: 95
YTD earnings: $1,215 LARRY MIZE
Residence: Columbus, Ga.
Turned pro: 1980
Years at Georgia Tech: 1975-79
Status: PGA Tour ChampionsDid not play Schwab Cup points ranking: 112
YTD earnings: $10,863
Career earnings (Champions): $5,166,866
Career earnings (PGAT): $7,947,092 ANDY OGLETREE
Hometown: Little Rock, Miss.
Residence: Roswell, Ga.
Turned pro: 2020
Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-20
Status: Asian TourDid not play LIV standings: 33
YTD earnings (LIV): $1,897,317
Order of Merit (Asian Tour): 52
YTD earnings (Asian Tour): $20,300
Career earnings (LIV): $2,724,375 CHRIS PETEFISH
Hometown: Danville, Calif.
Turned pro: 2018
Years at Georgia Tech: 2014-18
Status: Korn Ferry TourDid not play KFT Points ranking: 162
YTD earnings (KFT): $20,239
Career earnings (KFT): $342,455
Career earnings (PGA Tour Canada): $21,118 SETH REEVES
Hometown: Duluth, Ga.
Turned pro: 2014
Years at Georgia Tech: 2010-14
Status: Korn Ferry TourKorn Ferry Tour
Albertsons Boise Open
T-4KFT points ranking: 37
YTD earnings (KFT): $154,619
Career earnings (PGAT): $649,622
Career earnings (KFT): $780,736 LUKE SCHNIEDERJANS
Hometown: Powder Springs, Ga.
Residence: Alpharetta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2020
Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-20
Status: MacKenzie Tour/Forme TourDid not play Fortinet Cup points: 121
YTD earnings (Americas): $4,736
Career earnings (Canada): $46,844 OLLIE SCHNIEDERJANS
Hometown: Powder Springs, Ga.
Turned pro: 2015
Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-15
Status: Korn Ferry TourKorn Ferry Tour
Albertsons Boise Open
missed cutKFT Points ranking: 101
YTD earnings: $70,649
Career earnings (KFT): $636,359
Career earnings (PGAT): $3,879,653 BEN SMITH
Hometown: Novi, Mich.
Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2022
Years at Georgia Tech: 2018-22
Status: developmental toursDid not play GPro points ranking: 36
YTD earnings: $4,490 ROSS STEELMAN
Hometown: Columbia, Mo.
Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2023
Years at Georgia Tech: 2021-23
Status: Korn Ferry TourKorn Ferry Tour
Albertsons Boise Open
T-19KFT points ranking: 45
YTD earnings (KFT): $145,141
Career earnings (KFT): $169,262 TYLER STRAFACI
Hometown: Davie, Fla.
Residence: Davie, Fla.
Turned pro: 2020
Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-20
Status: noneDid not play Fortinet Cup points: 219
YTD earnings (Canada): $789
Career earnings (PGAT Americas): $45,681
YTD earnings (GPro Tour): $1,112
Career earnings (PGA Tour): $21,111
Career earnings (Canada): $12,970 CAMERON TRINGALE
Hometown: Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Turned pro: 2009
Years at Georgia Tech: 2005-09
Status: LIV Golf/Asian TourDid not play LIV standings: 26
YTD Earnings (LIV): $2,169,975
YTD earnings (Asian Tour): n/a
Career earnings (LIV): $8,550,825
Career earnings (PGAT): $17,310,004 RICHY WERENSKI
Hometown: South Hadley, Mass.
Turned pro: 2014
Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-14
Status: Korn Ferry TourKorn Ferry Tour
Albertsons Boise Open
T-36FedEx Cup points ranking: n/a
KFT points ranking: 54
YTD earnings (KFT): $65,960
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $57,000
Career earnings (KFT): $560,426
Career earnings (PGAT): $6,765,035 VINCENT WHALEY
Hometown: McKinney, Texas
Residence: Alpharetta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2017
Years at Georgia Tech: 2013-17
Status: PGA TourDid not play FedEx Cup points ranking: 121
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $282,284
Career earnings (PGA Tour): $2,928,093
KFT points ranking: 107
YTD earnings (KFT): $206,369
Career earnings (KFT): $350,642