@GT_Golf - #ProJackets Update

April 21, 2015

Watch the entire ‘Big Break The Palm Beaches’ Finale

THE FLATS – Richy Werenski, who graduated from Georgia Tech last May after a standout collegiate golf career and earned status on the Web.com Tour this year, defeated Justin Martinson 2&1 in the match-play finale of “The Big Break the Palm Beaches, Florida” Monday night.

At 23 years old, Werenski was the youngest competitor on the reality golf challenge program, which aired on Golf Channel. He receives an exemption to the 2015 Barbasol Championship this July in Opelika, Ala., $60,000 in cash, including $10,000 courtesy of Adams Golf, an endorsement contract from Adams Golf, $10,000 in car rental credit courtesy of Avis Car Rental, $10,000 in travel credit courtesy of Travelocity and a return, weeklong trip for two to PGA National Resort & Spa.

The final match, played at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., was played in September but aired on Monday night. The South Hadley, Mass., native, who lives in Bluffton, S.C., won four of the final five holes to close out the match. A great tee shot on the par-3 17th left him with roughly a 10-foot birdie putt, which he knocked down to clinch the victory.

“I had the momentum early, then Justin had it. We kept going back and forth,” Werenski said on the broadcast. “It was a tremendous match against a great competitor. But I knew from the start of the show that if I played my game, I’d have a good chance to win.”

“It felt like (the putt) took forever to reach the hole,” Werenski said on the broadcast. “Everything was in slow motion.”

Werenski turned professional immediately after graduation from Georgia Tech in May 2014 and won three of his first five professional events. His greatest triumph as an amateur was winning the 2012 Porter Cup and having his name engraved on the same trophy as Phil Mickelson.

In tournament action last weekend, Matt Kuchar made a solid defense of his 2014 title at the RBC Heritage Classic, firing four rounds in the 60s to tie for fifth place at 14-under-par 270. He finished four shots out of the playoff between winner Jim Furyk and Kevin Kisner.

The 2000 Tech graduate led three former Yellow Jackets with good performances in the event. His Yellow Jacket teammate Bryce Molder tied for 15th place in his best finish of the year (-9), and former Heritage champion Stewart Cink tied for 31st place (-6).

Larry Mize tied for 25th in the rain-shortened Greater Gwinnett Championship, firing rounds of 72-70 (-2), and moves onto the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf this week in Ridgedale, Mo. Meanwhile, both Werenski (T18th) and Matt Weibring (T63rd) earned money at the El Bosque Mexico Championship on the Web.com Tour, which moves to Indiana this week.

The eGolf Tour and SwingThought.com tours resume competition this week, with the eGolf Tour in Greensboro, N.C., and the SwingThought.com Tour in Tallahassee, Fla.

Shun Yat Hak earned conditional status on the PGA Tour Canada by tying for 27th (67-70-69-70) last weekend in the Qualifying School site in Winter Garden, Fla. Bo Andrews tied for 49th in the same event and did not earn any status.

Great to meet @BigBreak Palm Beaches Champ @werenskir and RU @JMART59 Thanks for joining @GCMorningDrive #redemption pic.twitter.com/TmpXLWWZGL

— Cara Robinson (@CaraRobbo) April 21, 2015

Upcoming Events

Next PGA Tour event: Zurich Classic of New Orleans • April 23-26, 2015 • TPC Louisiana • Avondale, La. • Purse: $6,900,000 • Winning Share: $1,242,000 • FedExCup Points: 500
Next Web.com Tour event: United Leasing Championship • April 30-May 3, 2015 • Victoria National Golf Club • Newburgh, Ind. • Purse: $600,000 • Winning Share: $108,000
Next Champions Tour event: Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf • April 24-26, 2015 • Top of the Rock-LD • Ridgedale, Mo. • Purse: $2,800,000 • Winning Share: $477,037 Next eGolf Tour event: The Sedgefield Classic • April 22-24, 2015 • Sedgefield Country Club (Dye course) • Greensboro, N.C. Next SwingThought.com Tour event: Killearn Country Club Classic • April 22-25, 2015 • Killearn Country Club • Tallahassee, Fla.

This Week’s Hot Links
Daily Hampshire Gazette: Werenski wins `Big Break’ reality golf challenge
The champ: Big Break’s Richy Werenski
Time lapse of the Big Break The Palm Beaches finale
`Big Break winner earns Opelika PGA event invite
Current PGA Tour rankings via Rivals Cup