THE FLATS – There will be seven Yellow Jackets on the PGA Tour in 2021-22 after Vincent Whaley finishes 10th at Korn Ferry Tour Finals and regains his card … Stewart Cink returns to the Tour Championship for the first time since 2009, ties for 26th … More details below in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Report.
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WHALEY REGAINS PGA TOUR CARD IN KORN FERRY FINALS
Vincent Whaley wasn’t without his PGA Tour card for very long – three weeks to be exact.
After finishing outside the top 125 on the PGA Tour in 2020-21, the 2017 Tech graduate virtually assured himself a return for his third PGA Tour season with top-10 finishes in the first two events in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals – a tie for 10th place at the Albertsons Boise Open and a tie for fourth at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship. He made it official after a tie for 41st at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship, landing in 10th place for the three-event series and becoming one of the 25 to be awarded PGA Tour cards.
He’ll join Seth Reeves, who finished 18th in the Korn Ferry Tour regular season, and five other Yellow Jackets on the PGA Tour next season. Whaley has finished No. 183 (2020) and No. 140 (2021) in FedEx Cup points in his two seasons on the Tour, and has posted sox top-25 finishes while making 23 cuts in 42 events. He earned nearly $700,000 in 2020-21.
Paul Haley II, Anders Albertson and Ollie Schniederjans all came up short in the regular season and in the finals but retain their Korn Ferry Tour status for 2021-22.
Dreams achieved. 🎓
Meet The Finals 25 #TOURBound pros!
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) September 6, 2021
Watch The Finals 25 receive @PGATOUR cards at @tourchampulf! https://t.co/E1JsPjPojt
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) September 5, 2021
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CINK TIES FOR 26TH AT TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Stewart Cink, who qualified for the Tour Championship for the first time since 2009, had a solid week of scoring with rounds of 72-68-71-70 to post a 1-over-par total of 281 last weekend at East Lake Golf Club, and finished at even par after starting out at 1-under in the Tour’s starting strokes format.
Cink was in position to play in the Tour Championship from the beginning of the 2020-21 season, when he won the Safeway Open in Napa, Calif., and then added another victory at the RBC Heritage in April. He had eight top-25 finishes altogether this season, earning nearly $3.6 million, the third-highest total of his career, and he is exempt on the Tour through his age 50.
Cink landed at 26th on the FedEx Cup points list after the Tour Championship, the third highest finish of his career (No. 22 in 2008, No. 20 in 2007). He will be joined by six other Yellow Jackets on tour for the 2021-22 season that begins next week at the Fortinet Championship (formerly the Safeway Open) in Napa, Calif., the tournament he won to begin last season.
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SCHNIEDERJANS, PETEFISH BID FOR FORME TOUR TOP 10
A lot is on the line this week for Luke Schniederjans and Chris Petefish as the Forme Tour plays its final event of 2021, the Forme Tour Championship at Huntsville Golf Club in Dallas, Pa. The tour scrambled to find a new venue for its finale after the original destination in New Jersey suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Ida.
Schniederjans sits at No. 9 on the points list following his tie for 27th at last week’s Rolling Green Championship, and if he can maintain that position, he will be able to skip the first and second stages of qualifying for the Korn Ferry Tour. Petefish is No. 43 in points after tying for 45th last week, still mathematically able to finish among the top 10.
The event is also taking on a unique format due to course availability. Instead of 18 holes a day over four days, players will play the first round Wednesday, September 8, with the second round September 9 followed by a 36-hole cut to the low-60 players and ties. Then the season will come down to the final day, a 36-hole marathon, September 10, that will determine 1) the winner of the Forme Tour Championship; 2) the Player of the Year; 3) the other four players on the Points List who will earn 2022 Korn Ferry Tour membership. In addition, the players finishing in the sixth-to-10th spots on the Points List get to skip the first and second stages of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament that begin next week and advance directly to the finals, in Savannah, Georgia, in November.
While the No. 1 position gives that player exemptions into every 2022 open Korn Ferry Tour tournament, those finishing in the next-four positions can reasonably expect to play in several Korn Ferry Tour events next year at least until the reshuffle takes place, where priority rankings change based on player success and performance.
Finally, the top-60 on the Points List at the conclusion of the Forme Tour Championship will retain membership and Forme Tour playing privileges in 2022.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
- PGA Tour: Fortinet Championship • September 16-19, 2021 • Silverado Resort and Spa • Napa, Calif. • Purse: n/a • FedEx Cup points: 500
- Korn Ferry Tour: Korn Ferry Tour qualifying, first stage events September 14-17 and 21-24, and September 28-October 1 at 12 sites
- PGA Tour Champions: Ascension Charity Classic • September 10-12, 2021 • Norwood Hills Country Club • St. Louis, Mo. • Purse: $2,000,000
- Forme Tour: Forme Tour Championship • September 8-10, 2021 • Huntsville Golf Club • Dallas, Pa. • Purse: $120,000
- All Pro Tour: Oakwing Championship • October 18-20, 2021 • Oakwing Golf Club • Alexandria, La. • Purse: $48,000
- G Pro Tour: 2021 schedule completed
- SwingThought Tour: ST43 Blacksburg Country Club • September 14-16, 2021 • Blacksburg Country Club • Blacksburg, Va.
#PROJACKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
New Episode! College Golf! We talk to Mike Small about the new world of NIL, what he looks for in recruits, the NCAA match play format, and what’s driven the boom in college sports. This is a good one. https://t.co/449ksvwfbz
— Roberto Castro (@cicioCASTRO) September 2, 2021
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Thanks for having me on men!
Couple things:
-Dont remember shanking it into the house in Mexico so it never happened
-My wife said P Rivers or @JohnPetersonFW is going to win the kids contest
-Still dont remember the name of the podcast
Give my episode of @ForeTPeople a listen https://t.co/pXB80HDzI7— Chesson Hadley (@chessonhadley) September 3, 2021
Something doesn’t seem quite right about this pic. I didn’t have the heart to tell him….@Saintnine_US pic.twitter.com/spiRxMeOWX
— Charlie Rymer (@CharlieRymerPGA) September 2, 2021
If you want to hear the great Fuzzy Zoeller story he told @CharlieRymerPGA, you’re going to have to watch the full interview.
Watch here ➡️ https://t.co/t9JYTudsLt#MBWorldAm #MyrtleBeachGolf pic.twitter.com/f4ZSic0reF
— Myrtle Beach Golf (@MyrtleBeachGolf) September 1, 2021
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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