THE FLATS – Stewart Cink and Richy Werenski, both 2020 winners on the PGA Tour, open 2021 with a trip to Maui and the Sentry Tournament of Champions … Three former Yellow Jackets are competing in this week’s Big Money Golf Classic … Tyler Strafaci to turn pro following Walker Cup … More below in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Report.
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REWARD FOR WINNING IS A TRIP TO MAUI
Perhaps the best reward for winning a PGA Tour event is knowing that a trip to Maui is in your future. Stewart Cink won the Safeway Open, the opening event of the 2020-21 PGA Tour season back in October, his ninth PGA Tour victory, while Richy Werenski captured his first win at the Barracuda Championship back in August.
The limited-field Sentry Tournament of Champions, conducted this weekend at the Kapalua Plantation Course, is reserved for tournament winners from the past year, and because of the COVID-shortened 2019-20 schedule, 17 other players who qualified for last season’s Tour Championship are also in the field.
Cink is playing in the tournament for the first time in 11 years after his last appearance, which came following his 2009 Open Championship.
“I’ve been a lot of places — I’ve been a pro golfer my adult life the entire time and I’ve been to some of the world’s best places, but I’ve never been to a better place than Maui,” Cink said. “So, it’s great to come back and I can’t wait.”
Cink is currently No. 4 in the FedEx Cup standings, having also posted a tie for 12th place at the Sanderson Farms Championship and a tie for fourth place at the Bermuda Championship. He has earned nearly $1.5 million in six events.
Werenski made three cuts in five events in the fall, with a high finish of T28 at the CJ Cup @ Shadow Creek, and sits No. 174 in the FedEx Cup standings.
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THREE FORMER JACKETS IN THE FIELD FOR BIG MONEY GOLF CLASSIC
Three former Yellow Jackets, including Korn Ferry Tour player J.T. Griffin, recently turned-pro Luke Schniederjans and amateur Tyler Strafaci are competing in the Big Money Golf Classic, a new 54-hole event that will be conducted this week at The Legacy Club at Alaqua Lakes and Heathrow Country Club in Lake Mary, Fla.
This revolutionary event is providing professional players an opportunity to play for a $400,000 purse in one of the largest events in Mini Tour Golf History. At the end of the event one winner will take home $100,000. As an amateur, Strafaci is ineligible to accept prize money and remains an amateur at least through the Masters next April.
More information | Leaderboard
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STRAFACI TO TURN PRO FOLLOWING WALKER CUP
The Georgia Tech fifth-year senior, thanks to his victory over SMU’s Ollie Osborne last August at Bandon Dunes, has quite the schedule lined up for the first half of the new year. He’ll play in two majors, the Masters in April and the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in June, and is exempt into the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Genesis Invitational, RBC Heritage, Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial and Memorial Tournament. He’s also already on the U.S. Walker Cup team, which will compete in early May at Seminole.
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FOUR JACKETS HAVE QUALIFIED FOR 2021 MASTERS
As of the beginning of 2021, four former Yellow Jackets have qualified to play in the 2021 Masters, coming up in April – Stewart Cink, who earned his spot by winning the Safeway Open in October; Matt Kuchar, who is among the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking; Larry Mize, the 1987 Masters champion; and Tyler Strafaci, who won the 2020 U.S. Amateur.
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GOLF DIGEST RANKS PGA TOUR TOP 100 PLAYERS
Four former Yellow Jackets appear in Golf Digest’s ranking of the top 100 players on the PGA Tour – Richy Werenski (No. 100), Cameron Tringale (No. 88), Stewart Cink (No. 82) and Matt Kuchar (No. 64). Read what the magazine’s writers had to say about them.
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#PROJACKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Even the bushes are spectacular in Maui. pic.twitter.com/kTY1jd2dj9
— Stewart Cink (@stewartcink) January 2, 2021
Seems to me airlines mostly take a beating on social media. They do a lot of good that goes unreported. Today @delta went the extra mile and helped make a huge difference in our travel when plans could have unraveled. #excellence
— Stewart Cink (@stewartcink) January 1, 2021
Coming this Thursday …. The Balls in the Air podcast with @CharlieRymerPGA. Subscribe below! https://t.co/gkyVzV0shJ pic.twitter.com/T8H5yDkZ95
— Myrtle Beach Golf (@MyrtleBeachGolf) January 4, 2021
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UPCOMING EVENTS
- PGA Tour: Sentry Tournament of Champions • January 7-10, 2021 • Plantation Course at Kapalua • Kapalua, Maui, Hawai’i • Purse: tba
- Korn Ferry Tour: LECOM Suncoast Classic • February 18-21, 2021 • Lakewood National Golf Club • Lakewood Ranch, Fla. • Purse: tba
- PGA Tour Champions: Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai • January 21-23, 2021 • Hualalai Golf Club • Ka’Upulehu-Kona, Hawai’i • Purse: $1,085,000
- All Pro Tour: Coke Dr. Pepper Open • March 10-13, 2021 • Oakwood Golf Club/Links of the Bayou • Alexandria, La. • Purse: $162,500
- G Pro Tour: TBA • January 26-28, 2020 • TBA • TBA
- SwingThought Tour: ST1 Sun ‘N Lake Golf Club • January 6-7, 2021 • Sun ‘N Lake Golf Club • Orlando, 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: n/a
YTD earnings: n/a
Career earnings (PGAT): $512,187
Career earnings (KFT): $915,431 STEWART CINK
Hometown: Florence, Ala.
Residence: Duluth, Ga.
Turned pro: 1995
Years at Georgia Tech: 1991-95
Status: PGA Tour/PGA Tour ChampionsDid not play Schwab Cup points ranking: 17
YTD Earnings (Champions): $152,086
Career earnings (Champions): $620,725
FedEx Cup points ranking: 158
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $67,645
Career earnings (PGA Tour): $43,526,864 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: 18
YTD Earnings (GPro): $3,792
Career earnings (GPro): $58,699
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 ChampionsDid not play Schwab Cup Points ranking: 79
YTD earnings (Champions): $18,276
Career earnings (Champions): $311,556
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: 139
YTD earnings: $191,297
Career earnings: $11,915,296 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 TourPGA Tour
Corales Puntacana Championship
missed cut
69-76--145 (+1)FedEx Cup points: 217
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $9,160
KFT points ranking: 119
YTD earnings: n/a
Career earnings (PGAT): $837,353
Career earnings (KFT): $1,078,795 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: 146
YTD earnings (KFT): $4,050
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: 187
YTD earnings: $70,125
Career earnings (PGAT): $58,828,816 LARRY MIZE
Residence: Columbus, Ga.
Turned pro: 1980
Years at Georgia Tech: 1975-79
Status: PGA Tour ChampionsDid not play Schwab Cup points ranking: n/a
YTD earnings: n/a
Career earnings (Champions): $5,154,323
Career earnings (PGAT): $7,947,092 NOAH NORTON
Hometown: Chico, Calif.
Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2021
Years at Georgia Tech: 2017-21
Status: Developmental toursDid not play Points ranking (GPro): n/a
YTD earnings (GPro): n/a 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: 46
YTD earnings (LIV): $476,625
Order of Merit (Asian Tour): 52
YTD earnings (Asian Tour): $20,300
YTD earnings (LIV): n/a
Career earnings (LIV): $1,038,250 CHRIS PETEFISH
Hometown: Danville, Calif.
Turned pro: 2018
Years at Georgia Tech: 2014-18
Status: Korn Ferry TourKorn Ferry Tour
LECOM Suncoast Classic
T-20
70-67-63-70--270 (-14)KFT Points ranking: 99
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
LECOM Suncoast Classic
T-14
69-68-64-68--269 (-15)KFT points ranking: 84
YTD earnings: $29,750
Career earnings (PGAT): $649,622
Career earnings (KFT): $655,868 LUKE SCHNIEDERJANS
Hometown: Powder Springs, Ga.
Residence: Alpharetta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2020
Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-20
Status: MacKenzie Tour/Forme TourPGA Tour Americas
69th ECP Brazil Open
missed cut
72-70--142 (even)Fortinet Cup points: 103
YTD earnings (Canada): $776
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
69th ECP Brazil Open
missed cut
71-71--142 (even)KFT Points ranking: 90
YTD earnings: $28,830
Career earnings (KFT): $589,540
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: 6
YTD earnings: $2,595 ROSS STEELMAN
Hometown: Columbia, Mo.
Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2023
Years at Georgia Tech: 2021-23
Status: Korn Ferry TourKorn Ferry Tour
LECOM Suncoast Classic
T-20
64-71-67-68--270 (-14)KFT points ranking: 22
YTD earnings: $95,633
Career earnings (KFT): $119,754 TYLER STRAFACI
Hometown: Davie, Fla.
Residence: Davie, Fla.
Turned pro: 2020
Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-20
Status: nonePGA Tour Americas
69th ECP Brazil Open
missed cut
74-71--145 (+3)Fortinet Cup points: 100
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 NICHOLAS THOMPSON
Hometown: Coral Springs, Fla.
Turned pro: 2005
Years at Georgia Tech: 2001-05
Status: Korn Ferry TourDid not play KFT points ranking: n/a
YTD earnings: n/a
Career earnings (KFT): $922,294
Career earnings (PGAT): $5,729,551 CAMERON TRINGALE
Hometown: Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Turned pro: 2009
Years at Georgia Tech: 2005-09
Status: LIV Golf/Asian TourDid not play LIV standings: 40
YTD Earnings (LIV): $747,000
YTD earnings (Asian Tour): n/a
Career earnings (LIV): $7,018,898
Career earnings (PGAT): $17,310,004 RICHY WERENSKI
Hometown: South Hadley, Mass.
Turned pro: 2014
Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-14
Status: Korn Ferry TourPGA Tour
Corales Puntacana Championship
T-59
71-69-72-72--284 (-4)FedEx Cup points ranking: 182
KFT points ranking: 21
YTD earnings (KFT): $56,680
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $57,000
Career earnings (KFT): $508,233
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 TourPGA Tour
Corales Puntacana Championship
T-23
71-68-73-65--277 (-11)FedEx Cup points ranking: 146
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $141,044
Career earnings (PGA Tour): $2,818,453
Korn Ferry Tour points ranking: 119
YTD earnings (KFT): $20,415
Career earnings (KFT): $263,392