THE FLATS – Connor Howe and Ross Steelman headline six Yellow Jackets in the field for the final stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying School this week … PGA Tour veterans Stewart Cink, David Duval and Matt Kuchar competing with their sons this week in Orlando … Andy Ogletree makes it out of golf limbo … More details below in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Report.
*****
HOWE, STEELMAN AND OTHERS IN FINAL STAGE OF Q-SCHOOL THIS WEEK
Connor Howe and Ross Steelman, both of whom graduated from Georgia Tech in May, are among six former Yellow Jackets in the field for the final stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School, a 72-hole event which begins Thursday at Dye’s Valley Golf Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. It is the first time since 2012 that PGA Tour cards are available through Q-School.
Steelman earned the spot by finishing in the top 5 of the PGA Tour University rankings at the end of the NCAA spring season, while Howe earned a spot in the second stage via the same ranking and advanced to the final stage.
Paul Haley II and Richy Werenski, who both finished outside the top 125 in the FedEx Cup rankings on the PGA Tour in 2023, are attempting to regain or enhnance their status for 2024. Chris Petefish, who finished 45th on the Korn Ferry Tour points list in 2023 but did not finish high enough to earn PGA Tour privileges, and Shun Yat Hak, who played on PGA Tour Canada in 2023, also are attempting to qualify.
Petefish has full status on the Korn Ferry Tour for 2024. Haley moved from No. 151 to No. 150 in the updated standings (benefitting from Jon Rahm’s exit from the PGA Tour), earning conditional status on TOUR through the 126-150 category. Haley can improve his status by finishing among the top five and ties.
Top five finishers and ties at Final Stage will earn PGA TOUR cards. Next 40 finishers and ties at Final Stage will earn exempt status through multiple reshuffles of the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour season. Click the link below for more details.
“This is awesome, I’m playing golf for a living.”
Ross Steelman reflects on the same dream he had in junior golf with his dad on the bag.
The @PGATOURU alum now gets to bring his dad along for the ride @PriceCutterCC. pic.twitter.com/uk8qWIYkkT
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) July 19, 2023
The fish is bringing the mojo 🐠
Ever since @petefish7 put on his old fish head cover in Oklahoma, his game has been trending, including a second-place finish last week @UTChampionship. pic.twitter.com/7y2xNBsBnD
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) August 9, 2023
*****
OGLETREE TRAVELED THE WORLD TO GET OUT OF GOLF LIMBO … AND HE DID IT
Having bailed himself out of pro golf limbo, Alpharetta’s Andy Ogletree has a little time here at the close of 2023 to set his feet upon familiar red clay, draw a few deep breaths and take stock of one impressive, yet still incomplete, reclamation project.
Although some of the details remain fuzzy. “I don’t even know how many miles I flew this year,” he said last week. At the time, he was awaiting a salmon BLT at his Golf Club of Georgia home base – such fare hard to come by for him the last year or so.
“All the places I went to kind of run together. I got to see a lot of stuff.”
For the past 18 months, Ogletree, 25, the winner of the 2019 U.S. Am while still at Georgia Tech, has played a schedule with serious Indiana Jones overtones. Bumped from the LIV Tour after one event, banned from the PGA Tour because of his LIV affiliation, he packed his clubs and his passport and went looking for a playing future.
More from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Andy Ogletree’s resurgence is not talked about enough.
Dude was hurt, out of money, and took 1 LIV start, knowing he would get suspended to keep his career going.
He shot +24. But the 120K kept him going.
Tomorrow he will go for his 3rd win this yr on the @asiantourgolf pic.twitter.com/b9OfARFNt6
— Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) August 19, 2023
*****
THREE JACKETS AND SONS COMPETING IN PNC CHAMPIONSHIP
Golf’s silly season continues this week with the 2023 PNC Championship, the annual hit-and-giggle that features major champions and their family members.
This year’s event will run Dec. 14-17 at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando and feature 20 teams, including 18 from last year’s competition, where Vijay Singh and Qass Singh claimed a two-shot win.
Stewart and Reagan Cink, who teamed up for Stewart’s most recent PGA Tour victories are in the field along with Matt Kuchar and his son Cameron, and David Duval and his son Brady. Cink and his other son, Connor, won the event in 2013. Duval previously won with step-son Nick Karavites in 2016. The Kuchars finished T-5 last year and are regulars at the annual event.
Chip in for birdie ✅
Give away the ball to a lucky fan ✅Matt Kuchar is all class. https://t.co/8NgzavtGiE pic.twitter.com/7maGroV8HX
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 17, 2023
*****
UPCOMING EVENTS
- PGA Tour: PGA Tour Qualifying School (final stage) • December 14-17, 2023 • Dye’s Valley Golf Club/Sawgrass Country Club • Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. • Purse: $510K • FedEx Cup points: n/a
- Korn Ferry Tour: The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic • January 14-17, 2023 • Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Club • Great Exuma, Bahamas • Purse: $1.85M • Schwab Cup points: n/a
- PGA Tour Champions: PNC Championship • December 14-17, 2023 • Ritz-Carlton Golf Club • Orlando, Fla. • Purse: $1M • Korn Ferry Tour points: 500
- PGA Tour Americas: Bupa Championship • March 21-24, 2024 • PGA Riviera Maya • Tulum, Mexico • Purse: $225K • Fortinet Cup points: n/a
- Asian Tour/International Series: Saudi Open • December 14-17, 2023 • Riyadh Golf Club • Riyadh, Saudi Arabia • Purse: $1M
- LIV Golf Series: Mayakoba • February 2-4, 2023 • El Camaleon Golf Club • Mayakoba, Mexico • Purse: $20M
#PROJACKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
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: 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 ChampionsDid not play 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 TourPGA Tour Q-School
Second Stage
75th (+14)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 CanadaPGA Tour Q-School
Second Stage
T-7 (-10)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 TourDid not play FedEx 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 TourDid not play 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 Q-School
Second Stage
T-42 (+7)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 toursGPro Tour
Augusta Open
missed cut (+2)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 TourDid not play 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