THE FLATS – Seth Reeves returns to the PGA Tour for the first time since 2019, joining four other Yellow Jackets in the 2021-22 PGA Tour season opener … Korn Ferry Tour qualifying school begins this week … Andy Ogletree returns to action after five months off due to hip surgery … More details below in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Report.
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FIVE JACKETS IN ACTION AS NEW PGA TOUR SEASON BEGINS
Seth Reeves, who finished 18th on the Korn Ferry Tour regular-season points list in 2020-21, will play his first PGA Tour event since 2019 as a card-carrying member when he tees it up Thursday at the Fortinet Championship in Napa, Calif.
The Johns Creek, Ga., native rallied from eight strokes back to win the 2020 Pinnacle Bank Championship, and recorded a solo third and T3 to secure his second trip to the PGA Tour. In his first season in 2019, he played 25 events, made 11 cuts and posted one top-10, finishing 188th n FedEx Cup points.
For Vincent Whaley, it will be as if he never left the PGA Tour. The 26-year-old from Alpharetta, Ga., finished No. 140 in FedEx Cup points in the 2020-21 season, missing the playoffs and forcing him to participate in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. He ensured his return to the PGA TOUR with top-10s in the first two Finals events.
Also competing this week are veteran PGA Tour members Chesson Hadley, Matt Kuchar and Cameron Tringale. All qualified for the FedEx Cup playoffs last year, Hadley grabbing the 125th and final spot.
Stewart Cink, who won this event last October when it was known at the Safeway Open, launching a stellar season which saw him qualify for the Tour Championship for the first time since 2009, will not return to defend his title because …
So glad for new sponsor @FortinetChamp, but scheduling shifted the event back one week, to same weekend as my son Connor’s wedding. So, I won’t be able to play as “defending champ.” But…can’t wait for many more events in #Napa!
— Stewart Cink (@stewartcink) September 7, 2021
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SCHNIEDERJANS, PETEFISH COME UP SHORT ON FORME TOUR
Luke Schniederjans and Chris Petefish both missed the cut last weekend at the Forme Tour Championship, the final event of the 2021 schedule, and came up short last week in earning status on the Korn Ferry Tour. The top player on the tour’s points list following the event received full exempt status on the Korn Ferry Tour for 2022, while players No. 2-5 received partial status. Players finishing 6 through 10 are allowed to skip the first and second stages of the Korn Ferry Tour qualifying tournament, which begins this week.
Schniederjans dropped to No. 11 on the points list, while Petefish finished 54th. Both players retain status on the Forme Tour and Mackenzie Tour for 2022. Both players will no doubt attempt to make it to the Korn Ferry Tour through qualifying.
The first stage of qualifying begins this week at two sites, and former Yellow Jacket Drew Czuchry is in the field at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta, Ga.
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OGLETREE RETURNS TO ACTION IN G-PRO EVENT
Andy Ogletree, the 2019 U.S. Amateur champion who has been out of action since April after having surgery to repair a labrum tear in his hip, will be back in competition for the first time this week at the Gaston Championship, a GPro Tour event in Gastonia, N.C., Tuesday through Thursday.
Ogletree was the low amateur (T34 overall) at the COVID-delayed 2020 Masters and tied for 46th at the Mayakoba Golf Classic in the spring. He missed the cut in three subsequent PGA Tour events before stepping away to treat his hip.
He’ll be joined there by James Clark, who tied for 26th place last week at the High Point (N.C.) Open.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
- PGA Tour: Fortinet Championship • September 16-19, 2021 • Silverado Resort and Spa • Napa, Calif. • Purse: $7,000,000 • FedEx Cup points: 500
- Korn Ferry Tour: Korn Ferry Tour qualifying, first stage events • September 14-17, 2021 • two sites
- PGA Tour Champions: Sanford International • September 17-19, 2021 • Minnehaha Country Club • Sioux Falls, S.D. • Purse: $1,800,000
- Forme Tour: 2021 schedule completed
- All Pro Tour: Oakwing Championship • October 18-20, 2021 • Oakwing Golf Club • Alexandria, La. • Purse: $48,000
- G Pro Tour: Gaston Championship • September 14-16 • Gaston Country Club • Gastonia, N.C.
- SwingThought Tour: ST43 Blacksburg Country Club • September 14-16, 2021 • Blacksburg Country Club • Blacksburg, Va.
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#PROJACKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
City of Atlanta electrified this evening, perhaps in celebration of the likes of @GTGolf alums @Vincewhaley @seth_reeves securing @PGATOUR return. #KornFerryCommute pic.twitter.com/BrNYnev3PD
— Kevin Prise (@PGATOURKevin) September 8, 2021
Great day for a great cause. @BGCA_Clubs changing lives every day. Quail is always a treat. Tom Fazio and Terrell Owens co-hosted. How about that for golf and charity bringing people together! pic.twitter.com/ZuHMMakKc0
— Roberto Castro (@cicioCASTRO) September 13, 2021
Make sure to catch The Charlie Rymer Golf Show tonight, featuring Hugh Royer as well the unbelievable wakeboarding skills of @GregJrNorman! We know what you’re thinking: “@CharlieRymerPGA on a wakeboard? I can’t imagine that.”#CharlieRymerGolfShow #MyrtleBeachGolf pic.twitter.com/RcxpVgiATQ
— Myrtle Beach Golf (@MyrtleBeachGolf) September 13, 2021
ICYMI: @CharlieRymerPGA caught up with his good pal, Hank Haney on this week’s Balls in the Air episode. Listen here ➡️ https://t.co/mivADA8Gpl. #MyrtleBeachGolf #BallsInTheAir pic.twitter.com/ORQwzJSvIJ
— Myrtle Beach Golf (@MyrtleBeachGolf) September 12, 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 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: 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 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 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 toursDid not play 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