Georgia Tech #ProJackets Golf Report

THE FLATS – Ross Steelman and Connor Howe enjoy successful professional debuts on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Canada, respectively … Stewart Cink, Paul Haley II and Matt Kuchar compete in U.S. Open, none make the cut … More details below in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Report.

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STEELMAN HAS SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONAL DEBUT ON KORN FERRY TOUR

Ross Steelman, who finished as the runner-up individually and led Georgia Tech to a runner-up finish as a team, makes his professional debut last weekend on the Korn Ferry Tour in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open. Steelman shot an opening-round 65 and posted four rounds in the 60s for the weekend, tying for 43^rd place at 11-under-par 269, which was eight shots out of the lead.

The Columbia, Mo., native was voted a second-team All-America in the spring and also made the All-ACC team, and finished ranked No. 5 in the final Golfstat national collegiate rankings. He also was No. 4 in the final PGA Tour University ranking, which carried with it full exempt status on the Korn Ferry Tour and a pass to the final stage of PGA Tour qualifying school in November.

All-American Ollie Schniederjans, who returned to competition for the Korn Ferry Tour’s Club Car Championship in Savannah back in March, played his first event since then but was not able to make the cut despite carding a pair of 68s.

Steelman continued his rookie year this week at the Compliance Solutions Championship in Norman, Okla., as Chris Petefish returns to action in the event.

Leaderboard

Trying to look at it as just another tournament ⛳️

Ross Steelman went 5-under in the first round at his first event as a professional @WichitaOpen. pic.twitter.com/zy4XoKf2hJ

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) June 16, 2023

#PROJACKETS
⁦@ross_steelman⁩ heads to the weekend 4 shots off the lead in his first Korn Ferry Tour event. #gojackets pic.twitter.com/dl3mA3kSmn

— Georgia Tech Golf (@GTGolf) June 17, 2023

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HOWE SOLID IN PROFESSIONAL DEBUT IN CANADA

Five Yellow Jackets have traveled north of the border to begin the 2023 season of PGA Tour Canada this week, including Connor Howe, who graduated in May and made his professional debut this week at the Royal Beach Canadian Open in Victoria, British Columbia.

Howe had a solid debut, tying for 33^rd place at 4-under-par 276, posting three rounds in the 60s, while J.T. Griffin paced the Jackets with a tie for 25^th at 6-under-par 274. Tyler Strafaci tied for 45^th, while Luke Schniederjans tied for 52^nd. Shun Yat Hak, a member of Tech’s 2013 team that advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Championship, missed the cut.

Howe earned All-ACC and honorable mention All-America honors last spring in helping Georgia Tech win the ACC Championship and runner-up at the NCAA Championship. He earned full status on PGA Tour Canada after tying for eighth at a U.S.-based qualifier in Alabama in April, then finished No. 18 in the final PGA Tour University Rankings. He also has an exemption to the second stage of PGA Tour qualifying school in November.

The tour moves to Saskatchewan this week with Howe, Schniederjans and Strafaci competing.

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Eagle finish for ⁦@realconnorhowe⁩ in his #PROJACKETS debut in Canada. pic.twitter.com/VQusGhGqnP

— Georgia Tech Golf (@GTGolf) June 16, 2023

TECH HAS THREESOME IN U.S. OPEN IN L.A.

Three former Yellow Jackets competed last weekend in the 123rd U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, none able to make the cut to weekend play. Veterans PGA Tour pros Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar have each played in the U.S. Open 20 times or more in their careers, carding a 5-over-par 155 and 6-over-par 146, respectively, while Paul Haley II made the first appearance of his 11-year professional career and posted a 9-over-par total of 149.

It was Kuchar’s third straight missed cut in the U.S. Open dating back to 2019 when he tied for 16^th place at Pebble Beach, Calif. Cink last made the cut in 2021 at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

All three Jackets will make their way to Connecticut for this week’s Travelers Championship along with Chesson Hadley and Richy Werenski. Hadley finished fifth at the Travelers last weekend, firing a final-round 64. Cink won captured his first PGA Tour victory in this event in 1997, then added a second win there in 2008.

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Getting back to even in style 🦅@stewartcink #USOpen pic.twitter.com/6uc8TzpR12

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2023

The 2023 Travelers Championship Field Update #3:

Dylan Frittelli has withdrawn.

Paul Haley II takes his spot!

Zecheng Dou is the next alternate.#WD #PGATour #TravelersChamp https://t.co/SxdS0C4FnV pic.twitter.com/ke58Mrm0jR

— GOLF INJURY REPORT (@InjuryReportPGA) June 18, 2023

UPCOMING EVENTS

PGA Tour:  Travelers Championship • June 22-25, 2023 • TPC River Highlands • Cromwell, Conn. • Purse: $20M • FedEx Cup points: 500

Korn Ferry Tour:  Compliance Solutions Championship • June 22-25, 2023 • Jimmie Austin OU Club • Norman, Okla. • Purse: $1M

PGA Tour Champions:  Dick’s Sporting Good Open • June 23-25, 2023 • En-Joie Golf Club • Endicott, N.Y. • Purse: $2.1M

PGA Tour Canada:  Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open • June 22-25, 2023 • Elk Ridge Resort • Waskesiu Lake, Saskatchewan

Asian Tour:  International Series England • August 17-20, 2023 • Colt House • United Kingdom • Purse: $2M

LIV Golf Series: Valderrama, Spain • June 30-July 2, 2023 • Real Club Valderrama • Valderrama, Spain • Purse: $25M

G Pro Tour:  Mimosa Open • June 20-22, 2023 • Mimosa Hills Golf & Country Club • Morganton, N.C. • Purse: $66,525

#PROJACKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

My Ganpuppy Bubba is ready to rock and roll. It’s impossible to have a bad day with Golden Retrievers around. Have a great week everybody! pic.twitter.com/8DMguya7Ns

— Charlie Rymer (@CharlieRymerPGA) June 19, 2023