THE FLATS – Richy Werenski earns third top-30 finish in his last five starts … Larry Mize preparing for his last ride at the Masters … More details below in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Report.
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WERENSKI MAKES WEEKEND AT VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP
Four Yellow Jackets competed in last weekend’s Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla., but only Richy Werenski made it to the weekend, carding four consecutive rounds of 71 to finish at even par 284. That was good for a tie for 27th place. The 31-year-old Werenski has posted finishes of 20th at Pebble Beach, 21st at the Puerto Rico Open and 27th last weekend among his last five starts and 135h in FedEx Cup points.
Stewart Cink, Chesson Hadley and Paul Haley II all missed the cut last weekend, but Hadley and Haley will be in the field this week along with Werenski for the Corales Puntacana Championship in the Dominican Republic.
Matt Kuchar returns to action in the Dell Technologies Match Play Championship, where he opens competition against Viktor Hovland Wednesday. Kuchar, an excellent match play competitor who won this event in 2013, also will face Chris Kirk and Si Woo Kim in group play.
Valspar Championship Leaderboard
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SCHNIEDERJANS READY FOR CAREER RE-START
For much of his golf career, Ollie Schniederjans had showed no signs of slowing down.
As a hotshot junior and part of that vaunted 2011 recruiting class.
As a two-time, first-team All-American at Georgia Tech, where he once won five of six events before losing in a playoff at the NCAA Championship as a junior.
As the world No. 1 amateur for 41 straight weeks, and just the third am since 1960 to make two major cuts in the same summer. Jack and Tiger being the first two.
As a young, promising professional, coming out of the gates hot, quickly winning on the Korn Ferry Tour and nearly nabbing that first career PGA Tour title on a few occasions.
But life in golf’s fast lane isn’t void of tolls.
And Schniederjans, as it turns out, couldn’t run forever.
Of course, Schniederjans didn’t get off the proverbial wheel voluntarily; he was forced off, by a troublesome left hip that served as the culprit for a slew of other injuries.
Now, having not competed in over a year, Schniederjans – and his surgically repaired hips (yes, plural) – is set to put his career back in motion at this week’s Club Car Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Thursday’s opening round will mark his first competitive 18 holes since Jan. 27, 2022.
Ready to get started. See you next week in Savannah @KornFerryTour pic.twitter.com/sl9UF70IFu
— Ollie Schniederjans (@ollie_gt) March 17, 2023
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ELSEWHERE
David Duval tied for 31st last weekend at the Hoag Classic in Newport Beach, Calif., putting together a 6-under-par total of 207. He is No. 67 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings. Cameron Tringale tied for 13th at the LIV Tucson event last weekend, posting a 5-under-par total of 208. Shun Yat Hak, a member of the Yellow Jackets’ team that was a semifinalist at the 2013 NCAA Championship, is in the field for the World City Championship in Hong Kong on the Asian Tour this week. Will Dickson is back in action this week as the G Pro Tour resumes with the Augusta (Ga.) Open.
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LIVING A GOLF DREAM
Try to imagine peeking through the fence and trees and seeing Augusta National Golf Club just out of reach of the childhood course you played every day. Imagine peeking through the little windows of the third-hole scoreboard you operated as a teenager and seeing Tommy Aaron become the first Georgian to win the green jacket. Imagine peeking at the pictures on the walls at Georgia Tech of your school’s greatest golfer, Bobby Jones, as you yearned to make a career in the game.
Then imagine peaking as a 28-year-old professional in your hometown of Augusta, Georgia, with arguably the greatest shot in Masters history and having a seat at the Champions Dinner for the rest of your life.
“I don’t think my dreams ever got that far,” said Larry Mize, who in 1987 became the only native Augustan to win a green jacket.
Mize, 64, will tee off in his 40th and final Masters next month. It is a difficult decision for any major-champion golfer to stop competing, but it’s made easier by a course that has grown 640 yards in the 36 years since Mize won.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- World Golf Championships: Dell Technologies Match Play • March 22-26, 2023 • Austin Country Club • Austin, Texas • Purse: $20M • FedEx Cup points: 550
- PGA Tour: Corales Puntacana Championship • March 23-26, 2023 • Puntacana Resort and Club (Corales Golf Course) • Punta Cana, Dominican Republic • Purse: $3.8M • FedEx Cup points: 300
- Korn Ferry Tour: Club Car Championship • March 23-26, 2023 • The Landings Golf & Athletic Club • Savannah, Ga. • Purse: $1M
- PGA Tour Champions: The Galleri Classic • March 24-26, 2023 • Mission Hills Country Club • Rancho Mirage, Calif. • Purse: $2.2M
- PGA Tour Canada: Qualifying Tournament USA West 1 • April 4-7, 2023 • wigwam Golf Club (Gold Course) • Litchfield Park, Ariz.
- Asian Tour: World City Championship • March 23-26, 2023 • Hong Kong Golf Club • Hong Kong • Purse: $1M
- LIV Golf Series: Orlando • March 31-April 2, 2023 • Orange County National • Orlando, Fla. • Purse: $25M
- G Pro Tour: Augusta Open • March 22-24, 2023 • Bartram Trail • Evans, Ga. • Purse: $66,525
#PROJACKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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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: 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