THE FLATS – Stewart Cink is the official host for this week’s PGA Tour Champions event at TPC Sugarloaf, his former residence … Cink chimes in on PGA Tour players seeking more protection from the sun … More details below in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Report.
STEWART CINK HOSTING PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS EVENT IN DULUTH
Stewart Cink was the main attraction at a pro-am Monday for this week’s Mitsubishi Electric Classic on the PGA Tour Champions, and he is serving as the official host of the tournament. Cink, formerly a Sugarloaf resident, is now 50 and eligible to compete in the event. Former Tech All-American David Duval and 1987 Masters champion Larry Mize also will compete.
More from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cink joined Golf Today to discuss how his views on tournament hosting have changed and why hosting the Mistubishi Electric Classic is a ‘second chance; a mulligan’.
CINK AMONG THOSE TAKING PRECAUTIONS WITH THE SUN
There seems to be a renewed emphasis on sun protection. Golfers are more exposed to the sun for longer periods of time than players in any other sport. The weekday rounds last five hours. Throw in an hour of practice before the round, sometimes after, and it adds up quickly.
No need telling Stewart Cink. He was walking off the practice range at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida, last month when he was asked why sun protection was important to him.
“Well, as someone whose maternal grandmother passed away from melanoma, and someone who’s out in the sun a whole lot and someone who already had a big chunk of stuff cut off the side of my face,” he said, pausing to smile. “It very important, not to mention what my wife is going through with her (breast cancer) treatment. It would be dumb not to.”
More from the Associated Press
COMPETITION UPDATE
PGA Tour
Four Yellow Jackets are in the field for the PGA Tour’s annual team event, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, this weekend in Avondale, La. The Zurich Classic uses an alternating-round four-ball and foursomes format. The first and third rounds will be four-ball, and the second and final rounds will be foursomes.
Eighty two-man teams are in the field, including Matt Kuchar, who is paired with Steve Stricker. The twosome have 21 combined wins on the PGA Tour, while Stricker had 17 wins on the PGA Tour Champions. Also competing is Chesson Hadley, who has teamed up with former Georgia Bulldog Greyson Sigg, Paul Haley II (paired with Blaine Hale, Jr.) and Vince Whaley (with Adam Long).
Whaley led the Jackets in last week’s Corales Puntacana Championship in the Dominican Republic, tying for 23rd place at 11-under-par 277, while Richy Werenski tied for 59th place at 4-under-par 284.
*****
Korn Ferry Tour
PGA Tour members Anders Albertson and Richy Werenski are not in the field for this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, so both will join the Yellow Jackets regulars on the Korn Ferry Tour this week for the Veritex Bank Open in Arlington, Texas. Chris Petefish, Seth Reeves, Ollie Schniederjans and Ross Steelman also ae competing,
Reeves (T-14), Petefish (T-20) and Steelman (T-20) all had excellent performances in last weekend’s LECOM Suncoast Classic. Reeves took a significant leap in his position in the Korn Ferry Tour points standings, rising from No. 119 to No. 84. Steelman remains the highest-ranked Jacket at No. 21.
Great week at @LECOMHC . Had a round of 63 and fought hard to finish t20.
On to Texas- he is trending! pic.twitter.com/6Lz59fQ37E— COA Golf (@golfplanners) April 22, 2024
*****
Asian Tour/International Series
Andy Ogletree had a solid weekend at the Saudi Open on the Asian Tour, tying for 17th place with a 7-under-par total of 277. He played the weekend 69-66 and finished 10 shots off the lead. Ogletree won the Asian Tour Order of Merit last year, earning him a spot in the LIV Golf Series for 2024.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- PGA Tour: Zurich Classic of New Orleans • April 25-28, 2024 • TPC Louisiana • Avondale, La. • Purse: $8.9M • FedEx Cup points: 500
- Korn Ferry Tour: Veritex Bank Championship • April 25-28, 2024 • Texas Rangers Golf Club • Arlington, Texas • Purse: $1M • KFT points: 500
- PGA Tour Champions: Mitsubishi Electric Classic • April 26-28, 2024 • TPC Sugarloaf • Duluth, Ga. • Purse: $2M
- PGA Tour Americas: Diners Club Peru Open • April 25-28, 2024 • Los Inkas Golf Club • Lima, Peru • Purse: $225K • Fortinet Cup points: n/a
- Asian Tour/International Series: GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship • May 2-5, 2024 • Namseoul Country Club • Korea • Purse: $1.3M KSW
- LIV Golf Series: Adelaide • April 26-28, 2024 • The Grange Golf Club • Adelaide, Autralia • Purse: $20M
- GPro Tour: Forest Oaks Classic • May 8-10, 2024 • Forest Oaks Country Club • Greensboro, N.C. • Purse: $68,125
#PROJACKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Matt Kuchar swinging through the years at the @RyderCup. pic.twitter.com/JyHgIi8PHL
— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) April 18, 2024
Stewart Cink Pro-Am pic.twitter.com/5ZKa3ktACr
— Thomas Sinowski (@BourbonLawyer) April 22, 2024
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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: 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