THE FLATS – Stewart Cink, Chesson Hadley and Matt Kuchar all set for The Players … Andy Ogletree back in action in Thailand … Connor Howe qualifying for PGA Tour Canada … More details below in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Report.
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CINK, HADLEY, KUCHAR IN FIELD FOR PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Three Yellow Jackets, Stewart Cink, Chesson Hadley and Matt Kuchar, are in the field for the PGA Tour’s crown jewel event, The Players Championship, this weekend in Ponte Vedra, Fla.
Kuchar, who won the event in 2012 for one of his nine PGA Tour victories, returns to action after sitting out last weekend’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, is No. 63 in the FedEx Cup points list. He has a pair of top-10 finishes in nine events in 2022-23, including an eighth-place finish the Genesis Invitational.
Hadley, who also didn’t play last week, has a pair of top-30 showings in his last three starts and sits No. 123 in FedEx Cup points. Cink, who missed the cut at the API, is No. 156.
Not in the field this week are Anders Albertson, Paul Haley II and Richy Werenski, who each tied for 21st place last weekend at the Puerto Rico Open (10-under-par 278). Haley remains Tech’s top-ranked player in FedEx Cup points (No. 44), while Werenski is No. 121 and Albertson is No. 191.
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OGLETREE LOOKS AHEAD TO THAILAND
In-form Andy Ogletree will be aiming to continue his rich vein of form when he spearheads a strong entry for the second edition of the International Series Thailand.
Six of the top-seven from the current Asian Tour Order of Merit have confirmed their participation in the event at Hua Hin’s Black Mountain Golf Club which will carry a purse of US$2 million, a 25% increase on last year’s prize money.
To be held from March 9-12, the tournament is the fifth leg of the 2023 Asian Tour season and the third stop for the International Series, following Oman and Qatar.
Riding high after winning the International Series Qatar a fortnight ago, American Ogletree is looking to further press his claims to top this year’s Merit standings.
He will also be hoping to win the International Series Order of Merit, which brings with it automatic qualification onto the ultra-lucrative LIV Golf League.
“Trying to win the Order of Merit out here is my number one goal this year. That’s all I’m really focused on,” said the 24-year-old.
In the first three Asian Tour events of 2023, Ogletree placed ninth in the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, tied for seventh in the International Series Oman and triumphed at Qatar’s Doha Golf Club.
In-form @andy_ogletree will be aiming to continue his rich vein of form when he spearheads a strong entry for the second edition of the International Series Thailand next week.#ISthailand #InternationalSeries #whereitsAT
— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) February 27, 2023
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HOWE IN THE FIELD FOR PGA TOUR CANADA QUALIFIER
Georgia Tech senior Connor Howe is in Alabama this week to compete in the third United States-based qualifier for PGA Tour Canada, being contested at the Highland Oaks Golf Club on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Dothan, Ala.
The Ogden, Utah native is preparing for life after Georgia Tech, where the fifth-year senior’s college career will come to an end following the NCAA Championship in May. He is competing as an amateur, as are many of the other players in the field.
The medalist in each qualifier earns full membership on PGA Tour Canada for the 2023 season. Golfer finishing second through 10th are exempt through the reshuffle approximately halfway through the season, and the 11th through 30th place finishers (plus ties) earn conditional membership.
A regular in the Georgia Tech lineup for five years, Howe was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference team in 2022, and to the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2020 and 2021. He has been a key figure in Tech advancing to the NCAA Championship in three of his four years (2020 event was not held due to COVID-19), and in the Jackets winning the ACC Championship in 2019 and finishing as the runner-up in 2022. He was ranked No. 86 nationally in Golfstat at the end of the 2022 fall season, and No. 85 at the end of the spring 2022 season. Howe also is ranked No. 31 nationally in the current PGA Tour University Velocity Global Ranking and No. 57 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Howe has played 128 rounds of golf in 42 events as a Yellow Jacket, finishing in the top 10 six times and compiling a 72.05 stroke average. His top finish has been a tie for third place at the 2022 Maui Jim Intercollegiate, and he earned a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Columbus Regional and a ninth-place showing at the 2021 ACC Championship. On the amateur circuit, Howe won the 2021 Patriot All-American Invitational and the 2020 Southeastern Amateur.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- PGA Tour: The Players • March 9-12, 2023 • TPC Sawgrass • Ponte Vedra, Fla. • Purse: $20M • FedEx Cup points: 500
- Korn Ferry Tour: Club Car Championship • March 23-26, 2023 • The Landings Golf & Athletic Club • Savannah, Ga. • Purse: $1M
- PGA Tour Champions: Hoag Classic • March 17-19, 2023 • Newport Beach Country Club • Newport Beach, Calif. • Purse: $2M
- PGA Tour Canada: Qualifying Tournament USA East 3 • March 7-10, 2023 • RTJ Golf Trail – Highland Oaks • Dothan, Ala.
- Asian Tour: International Series Thailand • March 9-12, 2023 • Black Mountain Golf Club • Thailand • Purse: $2M
- LIV Golf Series: Tucson • March 17-19, 2023 • The Gallery Golf Club • Tucson, Ariz. • Purse: TBA
- G Pro Tour: Augusta Open • March 22-24, 2023 • Bartram Trail • Evans, Ga. • Purse: $66,525
#PROJACKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Great honor to be @CologuardGolf this week. @david59duval is wearing a ribbon in support of my battle with colon cancer. I’m gonna get out and walk the course with him. Hopefully that’ll inspire him to make more more birdies than he’s been making!😜Get screened folks. pic.twitter.com/gHmRYUvOtC
— Charlie Rymer (@CharlieRymerPGA) March 3, 2023
View this post on Instagram
— David Duval (@david59duval) February 22, 2023
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: 231
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
The Open Championship
missed cut
76-77--153 (+11)Schwab Cup points ranking: 24
YTD Earnings (Champions): $144,315
Career earnings (Champions): $787,185
FedEx Cup points ranking: 169
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $251,719
Career earnings (PGA Tour): $43,778,583 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: 47
YTD earnings (Champions): $251,181
Career earnings (Champions): $545,141
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
Barracuda Championship
T-24
8-5-13-9--35FedEx Cup points ranking: 127
YTD earnings: $515,103
Career earnings: $12,239,163 SHUN YAT HAK
Hometown: Hong Kong
Turned pro: 2013
Years at Georgia Tech: 2012-13
Status: PGA Tour ChinaKorn Ferry Tour
Price Cutter Charity Championship
missed cut
75-68--143 (-1)Fortinet Cup points: n/a
YTD earnings: n/a
Career earnings: ¥251,305 PAUL HALEY II
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Turned pro: 2011
Years at Georgia Tech: 2007-11
Status: PGA TourKorn Ferry Tour
Price Cutter Charity Championship
missed cut
73-73--146 (+2)FedEx Cup points: 223
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $9,160
KFT points ranking: 205
YTD earnings (KFT): $9,160
Career earnings (PGAT): $837,353
Career earnings (KFT): $1,090,275 CONNOR HOWE
Hometown: Ogden, Utah
Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2023
Years at Georgia Tech: 2018-23
Status: PGA Tour CanadaKorn Ferry Tour
Price Cutter Charity Championship
missed cut
70-69--139 (-5)KFT points ranking: 162
YTD earnings (KFT): $27,131
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
Rocket Mortgage Classic
T-25
70-68-71-69--278 (-10)FedEx Cup points ranking: 140
YTD earnings: $550,656
Career earnings (PGAT): $59,309,347 CHRISTO LAMPRECHT
Hometown: George, South Africa
Turned pro: 2024
Years at Georgia Tech: 2000-24
Status: Korn Ferry TourKorn Ferry Tour
Price Cutter Charity Championship
72-66-68-70--276 (-12)KFT points ranking: 129
YTD earnings: $32,300
Career earnings (KFT): $32,300 ANDY MAO
Hometown: Johns Creek, Ga.
Turned pro: 2024
Years at Georgia Tech: 2020-24
Status: developmental toursDid not play GPro points ranking: n/a
YTD earnings: n/a 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 TourPGA Tour
The Open Championship
79th
75-72-79-77--303 (+19)LIV standings: 28
YTD earnings (LIV): $1,864,417
Order of Merit (Asian Tour): 52
YTD earnings (Asian Tour): $20,300
Career earnings (LIV): $2,829,500 CHRIS PETEFISH
Hometown: Danville, Calif.
Turned pro: 2018
Years at Georgia Tech: 2014-18
Status: Korn Ferry TourKorn Ferry Tour
Price Cutter Charity Championship
missed cut
74-73--147 (+3)KFT Points ranking: 156
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 TourKorn Ferry Tour
Price Cutter Charity Championship
70-73--143 (-1)KFT points ranking: 35
YTD earnings (KFT): $154,619
Career earnings (PGAT): $649,622
Career earnings (KFT): $780,736 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: 65
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 TourKorn Ferry Tour
Price Cutter Charity Championship
missed cut
74-71--145 (+1)KFT Points ranking: 110
YTD earnings: $52,500
Career earnings (KFT): $618,210
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: 36
YTD earnings: $4,490 ROSS STEELMAN
Hometown: Columbia, Mo.
Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2023
Years at Georgia Tech: 2021-23
Status: Korn Ferry TourKorn Ferry Tour
Price Cutter Charity Championship
missed cut
69-73--142 (-2)KFT points ranking: 44
YTD earnings (KFT): $119,511
Career earnings (KFT): $143,362 TYLER STRAFACI
Hometown: Davie, Fla.
Residence: Davie, Fla.
Turned pro: 2020
Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-20
Status: noneDid not play Fortinet Cup points: 114
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: 32
YTD Earnings (LIV): $2,048,025
YTD earnings (Asian Tour): n/a
Career earnings (LIV): $9,043,173
Career earnings (PGAT): $17,310,004 RICHY WERENSKI
Hometown: South Hadley, Mass.
Turned pro: 2014
Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-14
Status: Korn Ferry TourKorn Ferry Tour
Price Cutter Charity Championship
T-15
63-69-69-69--270 (-18)FedEx Cup points ranking: n/a
KFT points ranking: 41
YTD earnings (KFT): $65,960
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $57,000
Career earnings (KFT): $560,426
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
Barracuda Championship
2nd
13-9-16-9--47FedEx Cup points ranking: 117
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $282,284
Career earnings (PGA Tour): $2,928,093
Korn Ferry Tour points ranking: 81
YTD earnings (KFT): $206,369
Career earnings (KFT): $350,642