THE FLATS – Veteran PGA Tour pros Stewart Cink, David Duval and Matt Kuchar have some father/son time competing at the PNC Championship … Cink “in denial” as he approaches age 50 … Photos of Kuchar through the years … More details below in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Report.
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THREE VETERAN TOUR PROS REPRESENT TECH IN PNC CHAMPIONSHIP
Tiger Woods and tournament winner Vijay Singh grabbed the headlines last week in the annual PNC Championship, a two-man team event that pairs fathers and sons for 36 holes at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Fla., but for three former Yellow Jackets who have spent many years on the PGA Tour, the chance to bring their sons to play in the tournament is special.
Stewart Cink and David Duval each have won the PNC Championship, Cink in 2013 with his older son Connor, and Duval in 2016 with his stepson Nick Karavites. Cink has also played with his younger son Reagan, who eventually became his caddie for nearly two years. Matt Kuchar has posted several top-5 finishes with older son Cameron, and his father, Peter, served as caddie over the weekend.
Kuchar and his younger son Carson (-21) finished fifth in this year’s event, while Stewart and Connor Cink finished 11th (-19) and Duval and son Brady finished 13th (-18). Team Singh’s winning score was 26-under-par.
Listen to David Duval and Matt Kuchar explain what it means to participate in this event.
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STEWART CINK ‘IN DENIAL’ AS HE APPROACHES 50
By all measures, if Stewart Cink were to never again tee it up on the PGA TOUR, the 49-year-old would rest easy knowing he amassed an impressive resume.
Propelled by three Korn Ferry Tour wins in 1996, the Alabama native would go on to amass 11 PGA TOUR titles, including the 2009 Open Championship. En route to that title at Turnberry, a 36-year-old Cink defeated 59-year-old Tom Watson in a four-hole aggregate playoff. Watson began the 138th Open Championship with 12 PGA TOUR Champions titles already under his belt.
Cink will tee it up at this week’s PNC Championship alongside son Connor in the company of several of golf’s legends, including PGA TOUR Champions stalwarts like Padraig Harrington, Bernhard Langer and Jim Furyk. He’ll become eligible for the 50-and-over circuit next May 21, but he isn’t letting his focus go there just yet.
Cink’s intentions are driven by the mind of a competitor still feeling strong and fine-tuned for even more TOUR success. He won twice in the 2020-21 TOUR season and intends on again contending at the game’s highest level.
“Other than having to hold the menu further away to read it these days, I’m really not feeling any older at all,” Cink said. “I would say that I feel as good as ever. I don’t feel like I’ve lost any speed with my swing. I’ve got to say that being close to hitting 50 feels great.”
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PHOTOS – MATT KUCHAR THROUGH THE YEARS
A two-time All-American at Georgia Tech, Matt Kuchar won the 1997 U.S. Amateur and the Haskins Award as the best male collegiate golfer.
Upon turning professional in 2000, he missed the deadline to sign up for Q-School and was forced to resort to sponsor exemptions for the 2001 season. Thankfully, Kuchar earned enough money to be fully exempt for the 2002 season.
Kuchar lost his PGA Tour card in 2005 after finishing 159th on the money list. After playing his way back on the PGA Tour for the 2007 season, Kuchar never looked back.
Going seven years between PGA Tour wins, Kuchar regained his form beginning with a win in 2009. A banner year was in store for Kuchar in 2010 as he won the Vardon Trophy, the Byron Nelson Award and Arnold Palmer Trophy for leading the Tour in scoring average and money earned.
See full story and photos on Golfweek.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
- PGA Tour: Sentry Tournament of Champions • January 5-8, 2023 • Plantation Course at Kapalua • Kapalua, Maui, Hawai’i • Purse: $15M • FedEx Cup points: 550
- Korn Ferry Tour: The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic • January 15-18, 2023 • Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Club • Great Exuma, Bahamas • Purse: $1M
- PGA Tour Champions: Mitsubishi Electric Championship • January 19-21, 2023 • Hualalai Golf Club • Ka’upulehu-Kona, Hawai’i. • Purse: $2M
- PGA Tour Canada: to be announced
- Asian Tour: Saudi International • February 2-5, 2023 • Royal Greens Golf and Country Club • Saudi Arabia • Purse: $5M
- LIV Golf Series: Mayakoba • February 24-26, 2023 • El Camaleon Golf Club • Riviera Maya, Mexico • Purse: TBA
- G Pro Tour: St. Simons Open • February 7-9, 2023 • King & Prince Golf Club • St. Simons Island, Ga. • Purse: $66,525
#PROJACKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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Big night for the Rymer family. Youngest son Hayden graduating UAB with a Masters in construction management. 4.0 baby! #proudDaddy pic.twitter.com/vlj4wKwvjJ
— Charlie Rymer (@CharlieRymerPGA) December 10, 2022
Hey everyone, my friend Casey Jones was kind enough to make these for me. He‘s an amazing artist and can do some cool stuff to commemorate special golf occasions. If you are looking for something unique to give someone this holiday season please reach out to him! @caseyjonesgolf pic.twitter.com/pLWFcnidoT
— Chesson Hadley (@chessonhadley) November 22, 2022
PLAYER PLAYER LAST WEEK DATA ANDERS ALBERTSON
Hometown: Woodstock, Ga.
Turned pro: 2015
Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-15
Status: PGA TourPGA Tour
RSM Classic
missed cutFedEx 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 ChampionsPGA Tour
RSM Classic
T-17 (-10)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 TourPGA Tour
RSM Classic
missed cutFedEx 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 TourPGA Tour
RSM Classic
64th (-1)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
Butterfield Bermuda Championship
missed cutFortinet 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 TourPGA Tour Q-School
Second Stage
T-21 (did not advance)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 TourPGA Tour
RSM Classic
missed cutKFT 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
RSM Classic
T-8 (-13)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