Nissan #ProJackets Golf Report

July 6, 2016

THE FLATS – Matt Kuchar continued his steady climb up the FedEx Cup ladder over the weekend, firing a closing 66 to finish in a tie for third place at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational and getting a big bump to 13th place on the FedEx Cup points list.

Kuchar birdied two of his final three holes and leaped nine spots from his position after 54 holes, chipping in from 48 feet on the 16th hole and holing a 12-foot birdie putt at the last.

Since the WGC match play event in late March, Kuchar has posted seven top-10 finishes in 10 events, moving from 71st in the standings to his current position, putting him in excellent position to make the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta for the seventh consecutive year. He also accumulated enough points to move from 10th to seventh in the United States standings for the Ryder Cup, which will be contested Sept. 27-Oct. 2 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. The top eight earn automatic spots on the USA team, and Kuchar is bidding to represent his country for the third straight time.

Matt Kuchar closes round 4 with a birdie at Bridgestone

Kuchar holes his 48-foot chip shot for birdie on the par-5 16th hole.

The Tour takes an unplanned break this weekend because of the cancellation of the Greenbrier Classic due to the recent flooding in West Virginia and locally in the White Sulphur Springs area. Kuchar resumes play July 14-17 at The Open Championship at Royal Troon in Ayshire, Scotland, while other former Jackets will play in the Barbasol Championship in Opelika, Ala.

The Web.com, Champions, MacKenzie and the SwingThought.com tours all were idle last weekend, so former Tech stars John-Tyler Griffin and Bo Andrews went back to their home state for the G Pro Tour’s event at Forest Oaks Country Club in Greensboro, N.C. Griffin notched his first professional victory and earned $4,100 at the event with a 13-under-par score of 131 (36 holes). Andrews, who won a G Pro event in June, tied for ninth at 9-under 135.

JT Griffin wins at Forest Oaks with rounds of 66 65 for a total of 131 (-13) pic.twitter.com/4tWP4VYubP

— GProTour (@GProTour) June 30, 2016

PGA Tour China: Shun Yat Hak, a key member of Georgia Tech’s NCAA semifinal team as a freshman in 2013, made his second cut in three events on the PGA Tour China, tying for 24th place at last weekend’s Ping An Private Bank Wanda Open and moved up to 70th in that tour’s order of merit.

Amateur update: Incoming freshman Luke Schniederjans led a passel of Georgia Tech players participating in last week’s Dogwood Invitational, tying for 10th place at 11-under-par 277. Jacob Joiner (T-28), James Clark (T-37) and Andy Ogletree (T-41) all made the 36-hole cut at the Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta, while returning players Michael Pisciotta, Tyler Joiner and Michael Hines came up short.

All seven of the above-mentioned Yellow Jackets have made the field for next week’s 100th Georgia State Amateur (July 12-17), which will be played at the Capital City Club.

UPCOMING EVENTS

PGA Tour: The Open Championship • July 14-17, 2016 • Royal Troon Golf Club • Ayshire, Scotland • Purse: $9,300,000 • Winning Share: n/a • FedExCup Points: 600
PGA Tour: Barbasol Championship • July 14-17, 2016 • Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail (Grand National) • Auburn/Opelika, Ala. • Purse: $3,500,000 • Winning Share: $630,000 • FedExCup Points: 300
Web.com Tour: LECOM Health Challenge • July 7-10, 2016 • Peak’n Peak Rst (Upper Couse) • Findlay Lake, N.Y. • Purse: $600,000 • Winning share: $108,000
PGA Tour Champions: DICK’S Sporting Goods Open • July 8-10, 2016 • En-Joie Golf Club • Madison, Wis. • Purse: $2,000,000 • Winning Share: $300,000
MacKenzie Tour: Players Cup • July 7-10, 2016 • Niakwa Country Club • Winnepeg, Manitoba • Purse: $175,000 • Winning Share: $31,500
SwingThought.com Tour: National Pro Series/Grand Island Golf Club • July 13-16, 2016 • Grand Island Golf Club • Albany, Ga.