THE FLATS – Will Dickson captures his first professional title with a playoff victory on the GPro Tour … David Duval getting the rust off on PGA Tour Champions … Stewart Cink to defend RBC Heritage title … Yellow Jackets shut out from the weekend at Honda Classic … More details below in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Report.
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WILL DICKSON GETS FIRST PRO TITLE
The first professional title won by a member of Georgia Tech’s 2022 graduating class goes to Will Dickson, who won a playoff for the $10,000 top prize at the Daytona Open last week.
Dickson, one of the top players from the Northeast when he came out of high school in Providence, R.I., and signed with the Yellow Jackets, fought through injuries and other hurdles during his four years on The Flats before enjoying a productive senior year.
Last week, he shot rounds of 67-68-67 for a 14-under-par total of 202, and won the title with a birdie on the third playoff hole to outlast J.C. Solomon of Auburn, Ala.
The GPro Tour resumes March 16-18 with the Statesboro (Ga.) Open.
#PROJACKETS
Congratulations to @will_dicksongt on his first professional victory! Wins playoff for GPro Tour Daytona Open. pic.twitter.com/k7uKLfO1RV— Georgia Tech Golf (@GTGolf) February 25, 2022
2012 #RIGAJunior Champion @will_dicksongt claimed his first professional victory in the @GProTour Daytona Open.
Results: https://t.co/IFHYQBEr3G
📸: @GTGolf pic.twitter.com/QUL7rzlLbP
— Rhode Island Golf Association (@RIGAlinks) February 25, 2022
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RHODE ISLAND’S DICKSON BEGINS FIRST FULL SEASON IN PRO GOLF
Will Dickson made history in Rhode Island with four straight high school golf state titles. Then, he played four years at Georgia Tech.
Now, the 23-year-old is embarking on his professional golf career down in Florida on the Emerald Coast Golf Tour.
“I’m really excited, and that’s the cool thing is now I get to plan my own schedule. In college, you just took it one tournament at a time, you did not even know if you were going to play in the next event. Where as now, if you pay the money, you are in. So, I have 15 to 20 tournaments at least to look forward to the rest of the year,” said Dickson.
Like a baseball player, Dickson will be working his was up the golf tours in the near future.
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JACKETS SHUT OUT OF WEEKEND AT HONDA CLASSIC
For the first time this season, Georgia Tech’s participants all missed the cut at last weekend’s Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Seth Reeves, Richy Werenski and Vincent Whaley all missed the cut by two strokes after posting 36-hole scores f 145 (+5), while Stewart Cink missed with a score of 152 (+12) at PGA National Golf Club.
The PGA Tour stages two event this weekend, continuing the Florida Swing this weekend with the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando and conducting the Puerto Rico Open.
Cameron Tringale and Whaley are in the field at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge, while 2014 Puerto Rico champion Chesson Hadley, Reeves and Werenski head to Rio Grande.
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DUVAL “GETTING THE RUST OFF”
David Duval, who hasn’t played a full schedule in nearly a decade, said he’s “just getting the rust off” entering his third PGA Tour Champions start this weekend.
After turning 50 in November, Duval started to get the competitive itch again and is planning to play a full PGA Tour Champions schedule and cut back on his TV work to see how he stacks up with the over-50 crowd.
“It’s just getting the rust off more than anything, figuring out the routines of it again, budgeting your time because there is something to just naturally getting into that flow of knowing how to get everything you need to get done in a day,” Duval said ahead of the Cologuard Classic at Tucson National.
In his first two events, Duval tied for 34th at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in Hawaii and then tied for 68th after finishing 11 over at the Chubb Classic in Florida last week.
PGA Tour Champions Leaderboard
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CINK SET TO DEFEND TITLE AT RBC HERITAGE
The Heritage Classic Foundation announced Monday morning professional golfer Stewart Cink will defend his title at South Carolina’s annual PGA Tour event, The RBC Heritage.
Cink will be competing for a chance to take home his fourth plaid jacket, he won his first in 2000 and his second in 2004. His third RBC Heritage victory was his second of the 2021 season, breaking an 11-year winless streak. The win also made him the third player with three or more victories at Harbour Town, joining Davis Love III (five) and Hale Irwin (three).
Cink, a Georgia Tech grad and Atlanta, Ga., resident shot a 16-under 126 in the first two rounds, shattering the lowest 36-hole score at Harbour Town of 13-under 129 shared by Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson. Cink added a 69 on Saturday to reach 18 under, two better than Justin Leonard’s recording-breaking 54-hole score in 2002. Cink hugged his son and caddie Reagan, after he closed out his four-shot victory with a par on 18. His wife Lisa and their other son, Connor were in the gallery cheering him on. The 48-year-old has earned eight victories on the PGA Tour and has competed in every RBC Heritage since 2000.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- PGA Tour: Arnold Palmer Invitational • March 3-6, 2022 • Bay Hill Club & Lodge • Orlando, Fla. • Purse: $12,000,000 • FedEx Cup points: 500
- PGA Tour: Puerto Rico Open • March 3-6, 2022 • Grand Reserve Club • Rio Grande, Puerto Rico • Purse: $3,700,000 • FedEx Cup points: 300
- Korn Ferry Tour: Chitimacha Louisiana Open • March 17-20, 2022 • Le Triomphe Golf & Country Club • Broussard, La. • Purse: $750,000
- PGA Tour Champions: Hoag Classic • March 4-6, 2022 • Newport Beach Country Club • Newport Beach, Calif. • Purse: $2,000,000
- PGA Tour Canada: Q-School USA East 2 • March 8-11, 2022 • Mission Inn Resort & Club • Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. • Purse: tba
- All Pro Tour: Coke Dr. Pepper Open • March 9-12, 2022 • Oak Wing GC/Links on the Bayou • Alexandria, La. • Purse: 162,500
- G Pro Tour: Statesboro Open • March 16-18, 2022 • Georgia Southern Golf Club • Statesboro, Ga.
- SwingThought Tour: Sanctuary Golf Club • March 25-26, 2022 • Sanctuary Golf Club • Waverly, Ga.
- Florida Elite Golf Tour: Crooked Cat Championship • March 9-10, 2022 • Orange County National Golf Club • Winter Garden, Fla. • Purse: $5,000/1st place
#PROJACKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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.@CharlieRymerPGA gives his thoughts on the drama surrounding Phil.
Read of all Charlie’s takes here ➡️https://t.co/cOMFlDInB0.#MyrtleBeachGolf pic.twitter.com/KtJZokxCaZ
— Myrtle Beach Golf (@MyrtleBeachGolf) February 28, 2022
We are proud to announce our sponsorship of @GeorgiaTech alum and pro golfer @TyStrafaci! 🏌️♂️
We’re connected by our commitment to excellence, and EarthLink is excited to show our support for his 2022 season. Get to know Tyler here: https://t.co/CkXriBSwkV #EarthLinkSponsorship— EarthLink (@EarthLink) February 22, 2022
NCGA Opposes AB 1910: Nine-time PGA Tour winner Matt Kuchar talks about the importance of public/municipal golf https://t.co/cQWOzzgDYH
— NCGA (@ncga1901) February 25, 2022
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: 233
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
Dominion Energy Charity Classic
T-5 (-7)Schwab Cup points ranking: 12
YTD Earnings (Champions): $273,786
Career earnings (Champions): $1,486,795
FedEx Cup points ranking: 173
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
Dominion Energy Charity Classic
T-65 (+6)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 TourPGA Tour
Shriners Children's Open
missed cutFedEx Cup points ranking: 143
YTD earnings: $596,746
Career earnings: $12,320,806 SHUN YAT HAK
Hometown: Hong Kong
Turned pro: 2013
Years at Georgia Tech: 2012-13
Status: PGA Tour ChinaPGA Tour Qualifying
1st stage - Madison, Miss.
T-53 (did not advance)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 TourPGA Tour
Shriners Children's Open
T-14 (-15)FedEx Cup points ranking: 104
YTD earnings: $1,260,037
Career earnings (PGAT): $60,018,727 CHRISTO LAMPRECHT
Hometown: George, South Africa
Turned pro: 2024
Years at Georgia Tech: 2000-24
Status: Korn Ferry TourPGA Tour
Shriners Children's Open
missed cutKFT 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 toursPGA Tour Qualifying
1st stage - Madison, Miss.
T-39 (did not advance)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 TourPGA Tour Qualifying
1st stage - Madison, Miss.
T-33 (did not advance)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 TourPGA Tour
Shriners Children's Open
T-16 (-14)FedEx Cup points ranking: 120
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $953,118
Career earnings (PGA Tour): $3,608,927
KFT points ranking: 107
YTD earnings (KFT): $206,369
Career earnings (KFT): $350,642