Nissan #ProJackets Golf Report

Sept. 19, 2016

THE FLATS – For the third time in the 10-year history of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, two Georgia Tech alumni will tee it up at East Lake Golf Club for the season-ending Tour Championship. This year, Roberto Castro joins playoff finale regular Kuchar in the 30-player field when the event begins Thursday.

For Castro, No. 21 in FedEx Cup points, he is making his second appearance in the Tour Championship and first since 2013, when he also finished No. 21 in FedEx Cup points. He tied for ninth that year in the tournament, closing with a 65. Castro earned his spot by finishing third at the BMW Championship two weeks ago.

Kuchar, No. 16 in the points standings, has made it for the seventh consecutive year. The 2016 Olympic bronze medalist tied for 10th last year at East Lake, matching his career best finish in the event. He secured his spot this week by tying for fourth at the BMW Championship.

Following the Tour Championship, Kuchar will head immediately to Minnesota for the Ryder Cup, in which captain Davis Love last week named him one of his first three captain’s picks for the USA team, which will compete against Europe Sept. 27-Oct. 2 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.

All dressed up and ready to go. 📸 ⛳️ Gates open in 3 days. @pgatour @playofffinale #tourchampionship pic.twitter.com/hWB9mKGdZf

— East Lake Golf Club (@eastlakegc) September 17, 2016

For your viewing pleasure …

Seven of the nine finishing holes will have public bleachers w/ views like this 😍👌🏻 pic.twitter.com/3XvOtxoZw3

— TOUR Championship (@playofffinale) September 16, 2016

Web.com Tour: Ollie Schniderjans was the only one of five Tech alums to make the cut at last weekend’s Albertson’s Boise Open, the second of four playoff events on the Web.com Tour. The 2015 Tech grad started strong at 66-69 but settled for a tie for 61st. Richy Werenski, Anders Albertson, Nicholas Thompson and Chesson Hadley all went home after Friday’s round.

The top 25 earners at the end of the four-event series, which culminates with the Web.com Tour Championship, Oct. 6-9 at Atlantic Beach, Fla., will earn status on the PGA Tour along with the regular-season top 25 money winners. Werenski and 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.

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, continues to roll after securing his third straight top-10 finish last weekend at the PingAn Bank Open. Hak finished solo fourth after firing an 18-under-par 270, four shots off the lead, and has carded eight consecutive subpar rounds. He earned ¥57,600 to boost his position on the order of merit to No. 14 with four events to play.

Elsewhere: Seth Reeves, 35th in earnings on the MacKenzie Tour, earned his fourth top-25 finish of the season by tying for 16th place (11-under-par 269) at the season-ending Freedom 55 Financial Championship in London, Ontario … Kyle Scott (third) and Drew Czuchry (T-4) earned top-5 finishes in last weekend’s 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: Nationwide Children’s Championship • September 22-25, 2016 • Ohio State University Golf Club (Scarlet Course) • Columbus, Ohio • Purse: $1,000,000 • Winning share: $180,000
PGA Tour Champions: Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship • September 23-25, 2016 • Bear Mountain Resort • Victoria, British Columbia. • Purse: $2,500,000 • Winning Share: $375,000
MacKenzie Tour: season over
PGA Tour China: Clearwater Bay Open • November 3-6, 2016 • Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club • Hong Kong, China • Purse: ¥1,200,000 • Winning Share: n/a
PGA Tour LatinoAmerica: 63 Aberto do Brasil • September 22-25, 2016 • Rio de Janeiro Golf Course • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil • Purse: $175,000 • Winning Share: $31,500
SwingThought.com Tour: National Pro Series/Cascade Mountains Classic • September 27-29, 2016 • North Bellingham Golf Club • North Bellingham, Wash.