Nissan #ProJackets Golf Report

Sept. 13, 2016

THE FLATS – In one of the great performances of 2016 by a Georgia Tech alumnus, Roberto Castro shot a final-round 67 to comfortably finish in third place at last weekend’s BMW Championship in Carmel, Ind. In doing so, the Alpharetta, Ga., native leaped from 53rd to 21st in the FedEx Cup points standings and advanced to next week’s Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club.

He joined Matt Kuchar, who tied for fourth at the BMW Championship and qualified for the playoff finale for the eighth consecutive year. In reaching the Tour Championship, both Kuchar and Castro receive exemptions into the Masters and the U.S. Open in 2017.

Castro needed to finish third or higher to qualify for the final stage of the FedEx Cup playoffs. He opened with rounds of 65-65 before stumbling to a 74 on Saturday. On Sunday, he left nothing to chance, posting four birdies and an eagle on his front nine and finished five strokes ahead of fourth place.

In the final round of the 2016 BMW Championship, Roberto Castro doesn’t need the putter after jarring it from 160 yards out on the par-4 7th hole.

Very very excited to be playing @playofffinale in my hometown and college home course! #ATL #EastLake #BobJones #GT

— Roberto Castro (@cicioCASTRO) September 12, 2016

Kuchar received more big news on Monday when USA captain Davis Love chose him among three captain’s picks to join the Ryder Cup team, which will compete against Europe Sept. 27-Oct. 2 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.

This will be Kuchar’s fourth consecutive Ryder Cup appearance. He collected two full points for the Americans under Captain Love in 2012 at Medinah, and — like others — is eager to have the opportunity to avenge that loss. “He has a great, great attitude for match play,” Love said. “He’s a great partner. Like J.B., he’s consistent. He’s easy to pair.”

Kuchar has been a stalwart in national teams between the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup over the last several years. He also recently collected a bronze medal at the Rio Olympic Games.

In the final round of the 2016 BMW Championship, Matt Kuchar just drops it in for birdie from 20 feet out on the par-4 11th hole.

Amazing day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Charlie Rymer and my friends from BMW.

A photo posted by Matt Kuchar (@mattkuchargolf) on Sep 6, 2016 at 4:58pm PDT

Web.com Tour: PGA Tour veterans Chesson Hadley and Nicholas Thompson made good starts over the weekend in the first stage of the Web.com Finals in their bid to earn back their PGA Tour cards. They tied for 22nd place, best among the five competing Yellow Jackets, at the DAP Championship outside of Cleveland, Ohio.

It was the first of four events that culminates in the Web.com Tour Championship, Oct. 6-9 at Atlantic Beach, Fla. The top 25 earners at the end of the four-event series will earn status on the PGA Tour along with the regular-season top 25 money winners. Richy Werenski and Ollie Schniederjans, who finished second and sixth in the regular season and have already earned their cards, can enhance their status (i.e.: get into more events) with high finishes in the Finals.

Werenski finished in a tie for 46th last weekend, while Schniederjans and Anders Albertson missed the cut.

PGA Tour China: Shun Yat Hak, who helped Georgia Tech reach the semifinals of the NCAA Championship when it was held in Atlanta in 2013, has posted back-to-back top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour China, last weekend tying for second place at the Chongqing Jiangnan NewTown KingRun Open. He tied with two others at 15-under-par 273, six shots off the lead, but good for ¥89,600 to boost his position on the order of merit to No. 15.

Elsewhere: Seth Reeves, 35th in earnings on the MacKenzie Tour, competes in that tour’s final event of the season this weekend at the Freedon 55 Financial Championship in London, Ontario … James White and Drew Czuchry are competing in the Callaway Gardens Classic, a SwingThought.com Tour event at the site of the first stage of Q-school for the Web.com Tour.

UPCOMING EVENTS

PGA Tour: Tour Championship • September 22-25, 2016 • East Lake Golf Club • Atlanta, Ga. • Purse: $8,500,000 • Winning Share: $1,530,000 • FedExCup Points: 2,000
Web.com Tour: Albertson’s Boise Open • September 15-18, 2016 • Hillcrest Country Club • Boise, Idaho • Purse: $1,000,000 • Winning share: $180,000
PGA Tour Champions: Nature Valley First Tee Open • September 16-18, 2016 • Pebble Beach Golf Links • Monterrey, Calif. • Purse: $2,000,000 • Winning Share: $300,00
MacKenzie Tour: Freedom 55 Financial Championship • September 15-18, 2016 • Highland Country Club • London, Ontario • Purse: $175,000 • Winning Share: $31,500
PGA Tour LatinoAmerica: Copa Diners Club International • September 15-18, 2016 • Quito Tennis y Golf Club • Quito, Ecuador • Purse: $175,000 • Winning Share: $31,500
PGA Tour China: Pignan Bank Open • September 15-18, 2016 • Topwin Golf and Country Club • Beijing, China • Purse: ¥1,200,000 • Winning Share: n/a
SwingThought.com Tour: National Pro Series/Q-School Prep Event • September 13-15, 2016 • Callaway Gardens (Mountain View Course) • Pine Mountain, Ga.