THE FLATS – Chesson Hadley grabs final spot with Sunday 62 as five Yellow Jackets begin FedEx Cup playoffs Thursday … Seth Reeves earns PGA Tour card with 18th-place finish in Korn Ferry Tour regular season … Four Jackets competing in Korn Ferry Tour finals … More details below in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Report.
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FIVE JACKETS BEGIN FEDEX PLAYOFFS THIS WEEK AT NORTHERN TRUST
The race to Atlanta and the Tour Championship begins Thursday for five Yellow Jackets at The Northern Trust in Jersey City, N.J.
Stewart Cink, No. 19 in FedEx Cup points after two tournament victories this season at the Safeway Open and the RBC Heritage, and Cameron Tringale, No. 41 with four top-10 finishes and six others in the top 25, eased into the playoffs and stand to advance past this weekend’s opener.
The story was different for Ricky Werenski (No. 117), Matt Kuchar (No. 120) and Chesson Hadley (No. 125), however, as all three hovered near the cut line to qualify and needed good performances at the Wyndham Championship last weekend. The top 125 players in points not only qualified for the playoffs but ensured full membership on the Tour for 2021-22.
Kuchar, who has struggled most of the summer, stood at No. 124 but turned in a tie for 29th place after his closing 66 to secure his spot, while Werenski slipped only one spot from No. 116 with his tie for 37th bolstered by a finishing 65.
But Hadley, who entered the weekend at No. 132, needed a 16th-place finish to move inside the top 125. Playing in his home state and enduring his share of heartache this summer, including a late collapse that cost him a win at the Palmetto Championship at Congaree, Hadley made it in dramatic fashion.
The 2010 Tech graduate opened with rounds of 68-69-69, but still was projected outside the top 125 entering the final round. Spurred by a front-nine 29 that included a hole-in-one at the par-3 16th (his first ever), Hadley posted a 62 that landed him in an 8-player tie for 15th place. Still, he needed a three-putt bogey at 18 by Justin Rose to earn just enough points to grab the 125th and final spot by one point.
Watch Hadley’s hole-in-one, called on PGA Tour Live by none other than former Yellow Jacket All-American Charlie Rymer, and his emotional post-round interview with Amanda Balionis below.
“This is my job and I love it and I care very deeply about it. That’s why I’m emotional.”@ChessonHadley gets choked up reflecting on his season and future on TOUR. pic.twitter.com/3j8jdLCfbH
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 15, 2021
A birdie on his last to give himself a chance. 👌@ChessonHadley is currently projected 126th in the #FedExCup. pic.twitter.com/ABupeqrBm5
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 15, 2021
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FOUR JACKETS BEGIN KORN FERRY TOUR FINALS THIS WEEK IN IDAHO
Paul Haley II narrowly missed earning his PGA Tour card after finishing 27th in Korn Ferry Tour points during the regular season, but gets another chance beginning this week, along with Anders Albertson, Ollie Schniederjans and Vincent Whaley, to earn one through the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, which begin Thursday at the Albertsons Boise Open in Boise, Idaho.
Schniederjans and Albertson, four-year teammates at Georgia Tech who both have spent time as PGA Tour members, had solid finishes during the regular season, 41st and 64th. Schniederjans has posted seven top-10 finishes, and Albertson has four during the tour’s extended 2020-21 season.
Whaley, who finished 140th on the FedEx Cup points list as a PGA Tour member in 2020-21 and did not qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs, joins the group.
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SETH REEVES HAS HAD A SPECIAL TWO WEEKS
Georgia Tech will have a sixth full-time member of the PGA Tour in 2021-22 in the person of Seth Reeves. The 8-year pro has earned his second chance at golf’s top circuit by finishing 18th in points during the Korn Ferry Tour’s extended season.
His performance includes a victory at last summer’s Pinnacle Bank Championship and four other top-10 finishes. He made 22 cuts in 37 events, including 14 total top-25 finishes. Reeves solidified his position by finishing T11, T11 and T5 in his last three events, secure enough to skip last week’s regular season finale, the same event Pinnacle Bank Championship he won in 2020, to be with his wife Patricia as they awaited the birth of their first child.
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View this post on Instagram
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FORME TOUR
Tyler Strafaci is joining Forme Tour members Luke Schniederjans and Chris Petefish for this week’s Forme Open at TPC River’s Bend, which began Wednesday at Maineville, Ohio. Schniederjans tied for 11th and Petefish 25th in last week’s Fuzzy Zeller Classic in Indiana.
With three events to play, Schniederjans is No. 8 on the Forme Tour Order of Merit, while Petefish is No. 36. The top five points earners earning 2021-22 Korn Ferry Tour membership along with others advancing to the second and final stages of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
- PGA Tour: The Northern Trust • August 19-22, 2021 • Liberty National Golf Club • Jersey City, N.J. • Purse: $9,500,000 • FedEx Cup points: 2,000
- Korn Ferry Tour: Albertsons Boise Open • August 19-22, 2021 • Hillcrest Country Club • Boise, Idaho • Purse: $1,000,000
- PGA Tour Champions: Boeing Classic • August 20-22, 2021 • The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge • Snoqualmie, Wash. • Purse: $2,100,000
- Forme Tour: Forme Open at TPC River’s Bend • August 18-21, 2021 • TPC River’s Bend • Maineville, Ohio. • Purse: $120,000
- All Pro Tour: Sand Creek Championship • August 17-20, 2021 • Sand Creek Station Golf Club • Newton, Kan. • Purse: $130,000
- G Pro Tour: 2021 schedule completed
- SwingThought Tour: ST38 Heritage Golf Links • August 17-19, 2021 • Heritage Golf Links • Atlanta, Ga.
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#PROJACKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Hey Siri….play Jump by Van Halen pic.twitter.com/xOuddugd90
— Chesson Hadley (@chessonhadley) August 15, 2021
You never know when you’ll see the smooth swing of @CharlieRymerPGA in Myrtle Beach! #MyrtleBeachGolf pic.twitter.com/lhZ2S20VFe
— Myrtle Beach Golf (@MyrtleBeachGolf) August 16, 2021
Episode 7 is live! We talk to @jeehaeda about her new venture @SportsboxAi. Jeehae is high-IQ, high golf-IQ and has spent a lifetime in the game. She played at Yale, on the LPGA, worked at TopGolf and now has one of the most exciting start-ups in golf. https://t.co/PEf0O0xYFu
— Roberto Castro (@cicioCASTRO) August 10, 2021
Former Tour Player & one of the all-time great broadcasters @CharlieRymerPGA joins me on Next on the Tee. Charlie talks:
-’86 Masters
-His favorite interviews
–@The_McLemore
–@MyrtleBeachGolf
-& a @damonhackGC storyhttps://t.co/m4ZmRMsrRX#Golf #podcast #sundayvibes— Chris Mascaro (@ctmascaro) August 15, 2021
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: 239
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 ChampionsDid not play Schwab Cup points ranking: 9
YTD Earnings (Champions): $1,258,156
Career earnings (Champions): $1,726,795
FedEx Cup points ranking: 173
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $378,476
Career earnings (PGA Tour): $43,905,340 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 ChampionsDid not play Schwab Cup Points ranking: 61
YTD earnings (Champions): $356,865
Career earnings (Champions): $650,155
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: 143
YTD earnings: $628,066
Career earnings: $12,352,126 SHUN YAT HAK
Hometown: Hong Kong
Turned pro: 2013
Years at Georgia Tech: 2012-13
Status: PGA Tour ChinaDid not play GPro Tour points ranking: n/a PAUL HALEY II
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Turned pro: 2011
Years at Georgia Tech: 2007-11
Status: PGA TourPGA Tour Q-School
Second Stage
75th (+14)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 CanadaPGA Tour Q-School
Second Stage
T-7 (-10)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: 109
YTD earnings: $1,469,667
Career earnings (PGAT): $60,228,357 CHRISTO LAMPRECHT
Hometown: George, South Africa
Turned pro: 2024
Years at Georgia Tech: 2000-24
Status: Korn Ferry TourDid not play KFT points ranking: 140
YTD earnings: $42,504
Career earnings (KFT): $42,504 ANDY MAO
Hometown: Johns Creek, Ga.
Turned pro: 2024
Years at Georgia Tech: 2020-24
Status: developmental toursDid not play GPro points ranking: 72
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: 34
YTD earnings (LIV): $2,432,833
Order of Merit (Asian Tour): 52
YTD earnings (Asian Tour): $20,300
Career earnings (LIV): $3,543,875 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 TourDid not play KFT points ranking: 43
YTD earnings (KFT): $227,620
Career earnings (PGAT): $233,065
Career earnings (KFT): $859,183 LUKE SCHNIEDERJANS
Hometown: Powder Springs, Ga.
Residence: Alpharetta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2020
Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-20
Status: MacKenzie Tour/Forme TourPGA Tour Q-School
Second Stage
T-42 (+7)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 TourDid not play KFT Points ranking: 100
YTD earnings: $85,403
Career earnings (KFT): $651,113
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 toursGPro Tour
Augusta Open
missed cut (+2)GPro points ranking: 39
YTD earnings: $6,976 ROSS STEELMAN
Hometown: Columbia, Mo.
Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2023
Years at Georgia Tech: 2021-23
Status: Korn Ferry TourDid not play KFT points ranking: 56
YTD earnings (KFT): $172,746
Career earnings (KFT): $196,867 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: 28
YTD Earnings (LIV): $2,727,625
YTD earnings (Asian Tour): n/a
Career earnings (LIV): $9,599,325
Career earnings (PGAT): $17,310,004 RICHY WERENSKI
Hometown: South Hadley, Mass.
Turned pro: 2014
Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-14
Status: Korn Ferry TourDid not play KFT points ranking: 55
YTD earnings (KFT): $65,960
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $57,000
Career earnings (KFT): $632,504
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: 103
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $1,474,033
Career earnings (PGA Tour): $4,119,842
KFT points ranking: 107
YTD earnings (KFT): $206,369
Career earnings (KFT): $350,642