THE FLATS – Andy Ogletree still doesn’t have a contract with LIV Golf or status on the PGA Tour, but he has found his place as a professional … Vincent Whaley, Chris Petefish, Ollie Schniederjans move on in the Korn Ferry Tour finals … More details below in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Report.
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STILL A LIV GOLF ALTERNATE, OGLETREE HAS FOUND HIS PLACE AS A PRO
Andy Ogletree was the U.S. Amateur champion without a place to play when he took part in the first LIV Golf event last year and was shut off from the PGA Tour. He didn’t have a contract with LIV and still doesn’t.
But he found his place on the Asian Tour, particularly the “International Series,” a series of $2 million events with funding from LIV.
Ogletree shot 64 at Close House in England on Sunday for his third International Series victory, and second this year.
He has earned $887,370 in five International Series events this year. By comparison, Ben Kohles leads the Korn Ferry Tour with $504,828. Ogletree has practically locked up a spot in LIV Golf for 2024 by leading the International Series Order of Merit by a large margin.
“I think the incentive to play well is pretty good. Getting a chance to play LIV Golf is what everyone’s here to do,” Ogletree said. “I want to be out there and feel like that’s where I want to be right now in the next phase of my life. So, I’m doing all I can to secure that spot.”
Without LIV or the International Series, Ogletree would be on the Korn Ferry Tour at best, possibly Latin America or Canada. Now he has learned to build a schedule, to travel, and he’s making a decent living.
Editors note: Ogletree tied for eighth place last weekend at the St. Andrews Bay Championship on the Asian Tour.
More from the Associated Press
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WHALEY EXTENDS RUN IN KORN FERRY TOUR PLAYOFFS
Vince Whaley moved inside the top 144 of the Korn Ferry Tour points list with a strong performance at the Albertsons Boise Open, cementing his spot at the Simmons Bank Open next week (Sept. 14-17). Whaley tied for sixth place with a 20-under-par total of 264, jumping from No. 166 to No. 119.
Chris Petefish tied for 43rd in Boise to remain at No. 53 on the list this week, ensuring his spot in the Simmons Bank Field, and would continue to play through the Korn Ferry Tour Championship if he maintains his position. Ollie Schniederjans, who returned from a long absence due to double hip surgery in the spring, missed the cut but remains alive for the Simmons Bank Open with his No. 133 points ranking.
Those outside the top 144 could still potentially qualify, based on how many eligible players choose not to compete. Ross Steelman, a rookie on the tour following his No. 2 finish in the PGA Tour University standings at the end of the college season, missed the cut in Boise and ranks No. 162, meaning 18 eligible players would need to elect not to play next week for him to be in the field. His PGA Tour University finish affords him exemption into the final stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying School, and unlimited sponsor exemptions into PGA Tour events this fall and next year.
The reimagined Korn Ferry Tour Finals format, new in 2023, features elevated point totals, increased purses and a progressive field reduction; the Albertsons Boise Open featured a 156-player field (which extended to No. 173 on the season-long standings, as 17 eligible players elected not to compete), and the second Finals event, the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation, will feature 144 players.
After that, the field will number the top 120 for the Nationwide Childrens Hospital Championship (Sept. 21-24), and the top 75 will compete in the season ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship (Oct. 5-8).
Full Korn Ferry Tour points list
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FOUR YELLOW JACKETS DOWN THE STRETCH FOR FORTINET CUP
Luke Schniederjans and Connor Howe remain within reach of greater rewards this weekend when PGA TOUR Canada continued its three-week sprint to the finish line at the CRMC Championship in Brainerd, Minn.
Schniederjans, the only Yellow Jacket to make the cut last weekend at the Manitoba Open, held his position at No. 11, while Howe, who missed the cut, is No. 14. Tyler Strafaci (No. 49) and J.T. Griffin (No. 75) are looking for high finishes to make a late splash.
The winner of the Fortinet Cup will receive a $25,000 bonus and full status on the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour. The second- through fifth-place finishers earn conditional Korn Ferry status and all five will be exempt into the final stage of the 2023 PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.
