THE FLATS – Fall race for 2024 PGA Tour status begins this weekend for six Yellow Jackets … Chris Petefish looking for strong finish in Korn Ferry Tour finals … J.T. Griffin rallies in last two PGA Tour Canada events to retain status for 2024 … More details below in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Report.
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SIX JACKETS TEEING IT UP AT FORTINET CHAMPIONSHIP
Six Yellow Jackets, some of whom are battling to retain their PGA Tour cards for the 2024 season, return to action this weekend as the PGA Tour begins its seven-event fall sprint with the Fortinet Championship in Napa, Calif.
Stewart Cink, Matt Kuchar and Richy Werenski are in the field as tournament winners the past two seasons, but Kuchar, at No. 66 in FedEx Cup points, is the only one of the three whose 2024 status is secure heading into the fall schedule.
The top 125 in points after the season-ending RSM Classic in November retain their cards for 2024. Cink, the winner of the Fortinet Championship in 2021, sits No. 167 in the FedEx Cup points standings, while Werenski is No. 145. Chesson Hadley holds the No. 121 position, while Paul Haley II is No. 134, and Vincent Whaley is No. 222.
Cink also sits in No. 40 in the Schwab Cup standings on the PGA Tour Champions.
Complete FedEx Cup points standings
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JACKETS RESUME KORN FERRY TOUR FINALS
Chris Petefish resumes his bid for PGA Tour status this weekend when the Korn Ferry Tour Finals resumes with the Simmons Bank Open in College Grove, Tenn. Petefish is No. 53 in the Korn Ferry Tour points list, and would continue to play through the Korn Ferry Tour Championship if he maintains his position.
With three events remaining, Petefish can improve his position with high finishes and potentially finish among the top 30 in points at the end, which would earn him a 2024 PGA Tour card. At his current position, he would be exempt into the final stage of the PGA Tour qualifying school, where the top five finishers earn 2024 cards.
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, ranks No. 162 and is an alternate for the Simmons Bank Open. 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.
After this week, 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
The fish is bringing the mojo 🐠
Ever since @petefish7 put on his old fish head cover in Oklahoma, his game has been trending, including a second-place finish last week @UTChampionship. pic.twitter.com/7y2xNBsBnD
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) August 9, 2023
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FOUR YELLOW JACKETS CONCLUDE PGA TOUR CANADA SEASON
Four Yellow Jackets concluded their PGA Tour Canada seasons last weekend at the Fortinet Cup Championship in Calgary, Alberta. The top 60 players in the Fortinet Cup points standings qualify for the season-ending event.
J.T. Griffin put together two strong performance in the last two events, including a tie for 19th last weekend to finish at No. 52 in the points standings. Connor Howe tied for 29th to finish at No. 20 in the standings, while Luke Schniederjans tied for 52nd place to finish at No. 23 in points. Tyler Strafaci withdrew after three rounds, and finished No. 60 in points.
All four players retained their status on the tour for 2024.
Howe is exempt through the first stage of Q-School by virtue of his No. 18 finish in the PGA Tour University standings at the close of his senior season at Georgia Tech.
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CINK’S CALF MUSCLES IMPRESS SOCIAL MEDIA
The 2023 Ryder Cup is still more than a couple weeks away, but if the scoring was based on calf muscles, the U.S. would already hold an edge. And a HUGE one at that.
Zach Johnson’s squad gathered in Rome over the weekend for a scouting report of Marco Simone, but it was one particular photo from the team bonding mission that turned heads. And had everyone looking at Stewart Cink’s legs.
That’s because the 6-foot-4 American vice captain looked like an absolute unit wearing team shorts. Let’s just say it doesn’t appear that the 50-year-old has skipped leg day since winning the 2009 Open Championship. Have a look for yourself. (Cink is on the left side of the photo, but you’ll have no problem finding the guy who looks like he’s standing on two oil barrels.)
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thank you @marcosimonegolf for an amazing weekend! pic.twitter.com/F2r3IF2uWi
— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) September 9, 2023
UPCOMING EVENTS
- PGA Tour: Fortinet Championship • September 14-17, 2023 • Silverado Resort (North Course) • Napa, Calif. • Purse: $8.4M • FedEx Cup points: 500
- Korn Ferry Tour: Simmons Bank Open • September 14-17, 2023 • The Grove • College Grove, Tenn. • Purse: $1.5M
- PGA Tour Champions: Ascension Charity Classic • September 8-10, 2023 • Norwood Hills Country Club • St. Louis, Mo. • Purse: $2M
- PGA Tour Canada: season concluded
- Asian Tour: International Series Singapore • October 5-8, 2023 • Tanah Merah Country Club • Singapore • Purse: $2M
- LIV Golf Series: Chicago • September 22-24, 2023 • Rich Harvest Farms • Sugar Grove, Ill. • Purse: $25M
- G Pro Tour: Rock Hill Championship • September 12-14, 2023 • Rock Hill Country Club • Rock Hill, S.C. • Purse: $109,525
#PROJACKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
PLAYER | PLAYER | LAST WEEK | DATA |
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ANDERS ALBERTSON Hometown: Woodstock, Ga. Turned pro: 2015 Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-15 Status: PGA Tour |
Did not play | FedEx Cup points ranking: 195 YTD earnings: $87,639 Career earnings (PGAT): $512,187 Career earnings (KFT): $915,431 |
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STEWART CINK Hometown: Florence, Ala. Residence: Duluth, Ga. Turned pro: 1995 Years at Georgia Tech: 1991-95 Status: PGA Tour |
Did not play | Schwab Cup ranking: 40 YTD Earnings (Champions): $394,900 FedEx Cup points ranking: 166 YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $499,632 Career earnings (PGA Tour): $43,283,250 |
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WILL DICKSON Hometown: Providence, R.I. Residence: Atlanta, Ga. Turned pro: 2021 Years at Georgia Tech: 2017-21 Status: Developmental tours |
Did not play | GPro Points ranking: 20 YTD Earnings (GPro): $18,438 Career earnings (GPro): $56,010 Points ranking (KFT): 193 YTD earnings (KFT): $4,538 Points ranking (FET): 154 YTD earnings (FET): $2,571 |
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DAVID DUVAL Hometown: Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Residence: Denver, Colo. Turned pro: 1993 Years at Georgia Tech: 1989-93 Status: PGA Tour Champions |
PGA Tour Champions Ascension Charity Classic T-65 68-76-73–217 (+4) |
Schwab Cup Points ranking: 84 YTD earnings (Champions): $90,551 Career earnings (Champions): $178,685 Career earnings (PGAT): $18,983,931 |
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J.T. GRIFFIN Hometown: Wilson, N.C. Residence: Marietta, Ga. Turned pro: 2011 Years at Georgia Tech: 2007-11 Status: Korn Ferry Tour |
PGA Tour Canada Fortinet Cup Championship T-19 67-66-70-71–274 (-10) |
Fortinet Cup points: 52 YTD earnings (Canada): $12,957 Career earnings (Canada): $29,836 Career earnings (KFT): $187,056 |
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CHESSON HADLEY Hometown: Raleigh, N.C. Turned pro: 2010 Years at Georgia Tech: 2006-10 Status: PGA Tour |
Did not play | FedEx Cup points ranking: 121 YTD earnings: $864,616 Career earnings: $11,085,508 |
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SHUN YAT HAK Hometown: Hong Kong Turned pro: 2013 Years at Georgia Tech: 2012-13 Status: PGA Tour China |
Did not play | Fortinet Cup points: n/a YTD earnings: n/a Career earnings: ¥251,305 |
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PAUL HALEY II Hometown: Dallas, Texas Turned pro: 2011 Years at Georgia Tech: 2007-11 Status: PGA Tour |
Did not play | FedEx Cup points ranking: 134 YTD earnings: $737,968 Career earnings (PGAT): $810,973 Career earnings (KFT): $1,078,795 |
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CONNOR HOWE Hometown: Ogden, Utah Residence: Atlanta, Ga. Turned pro: 2023 Years at Georgia Tech: 2018-23 Status: PGA Tour Canada |
PGA Tour Canada Fortinet Cup Championship T-29 70-68-69-69–276 (-8) |
Fortinet Cup points ranking: 20 YTD earnings (Canada): $29,789 |
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MATT KUCHAR Hometown: Lake Mary, Fla. Residence: Sea Island, Ga. Turned pro: 2000 Years at Georgia Tech: 1997-2000 Status: PGA Tour |
Did not play | FedEx Cup points ranking: 66 YTD earnings: $2,835,498 Career earnings (PGAT): $57,793,967 |
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LARRY MIZE Residence: Columbus, Ga. Turned pro: 1980 Years at Georgia Tech: 1975-79 Status: PGA Tour Champions |
Did not play | Schwab Cup points ranking: 155 YTD earnings: $11,466 Career earnings (Champions): $5,154,323 Career earnings (PGAT): $7,947,092 |
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NOAH NORTON Hometown: Chico, Calif. Residence: Atlanta, Ga. Turned pro: 2021 Years at Georgia Tech: 2017-21 Status: Developmental tours |
Did not play | Points ranking (GPro): 165 YTD earnings (GPro): $1,730 |
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ANDY OGLETREE Hometown: Little Rock, Miss. Residence: Roswell, Ga. Turned pro: 2020 Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-20 Status: Asian Tour |
Did not play | Order of Merit (Asian Tour): 1 YTD earnings (Asian Tour): $925,330 2023 earnings (LIV): $750,000 Career earnings (LIV): $750,000 |
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CHRIS PETEFISH Hometown: Danville, Calif. Turned pro: 2018 Years at Georgia Tech: 2014-18 Status: Korn Ferry Tour |
Did not play | KFT Points ranking: 53 YTD earnings (KFT): $142,737 Career earnings (KFT): $211,782 Career earnings (PGA Tour Canada): $21,118 |
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SETH REEVES Hometown: Duluth, Ga. Turned pro: 2014 Years at Georgia Tech: 2010-14 Status: Korn Ferry Tour |
Did not play | KFT points ranking: 184 YTD earnings: $10,410 Career earnings (PGAT): $649,622 Career earnings (KFT): $626,118 |
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LUKE SCHNIEDERJANS Hometown: Powder Springs, Ga. Residence: Alpharetta, Ga. Turned pro: 2020 Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-20 Status: MacKenzie Tour/Forme Tour |
PGA Tour Canada Fortinet Cup Championship T-52 72-69-70-70–281 (-3) |
Fortinet Cup points: 23 YTD earnings (Canada): $27,064 Career earnings (Canada): $46,844 |
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OLLIE SCHNIEDERJANS Hometown: Powder Springs, Ga. Turned pro: 2015 Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-15 Status: Korn Ferry Tour |
Did not play | KFT Points ranking: 133 YTD earnings: $22,976 Career earnings (KFT): $553,500 Career earnings (PGAT): $3,879,653 |
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BEN SMITH Hometown: Novi, Mich. Residence: Atlanta, Ga. Turned pro: 2022 Years at Georgia Tech: 2018-22 Status: developmental tours |
Did not play | GPro points ranking: 91 YTD earnings: $2,310 |
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ROSS STEELMAN Hometown: Columbia, Mo. Residence: Atlanta, Ga. Turned pro: 2023 Years at Georgia Tech: 2021-23 Status: Korn Ferry Tour |
Did not play | KFT points ranking: 162 YTD earnings: $24,121 |
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TYLER STRAFACI Hometown: Davie, Fla. Residence: Davie, Fla. Turned pro: 2020 Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-20 Status: none |
PGA Tour Canada Fortinet Cup Championship withdrew 69-68-76–213 (even) |
Fortinet Cup points: 60 YTD earnings (Canada): $11,600 Career earnings (Canada): $24,570 YTD earnings (GPro Tour): $1,112 Career earnings (PGA Tour): $21,111 Career earnings (Canada): $12,970 |
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NICHOLAS THOMPSON Hometown: Coral Springs, Fla. Turned pro: 2005 Years at Georgia Tech: 2001-05 Status: Korn Ferry Tour |
Did not play | KFT points ranking: 237 YTD earnings: $2,880 Career earnings (KFT): $922,294 Career earnings (PGAT): $5,729,551 |
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CAMERON TRINGALE Hometown: Laguna Niguel, Calif. Turned pro: 2009 Years at Georgia Tech: 2005-09 Status: LIV Golf/Asian Tour |
Did not play | YTD Earnings (LIV): $4,313,334 YTD earnings (Asian Tour): $27,625 Career earnings (LIV): $4,647,600 Career earnings (PGAT): $17,310,004 |
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RICHY WERENSKI Hometown: South Hadley, Mass. Turned pro: 2014 Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-14 Status: Korn Ferry Tour |
Did not play | FedEx Cup points ranking: 144 YTD earnings: $531,041 Career earnings (PGAT): $6,612,333 |
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VINCENT WHALEY Hometown: McKinney, Texas Residence: Alpharetta, Ga. Turned pro: 2017 Years at Georgia Tech: 2013-17 Status: PGA Tour |
Did not play | Korn Ferry Tour points ranking: 119 YTD earnings (KFT): $20,415 FedEx Cup points ranking: 218 YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $85,612 Career earnings (PGAT): $2,025,292 Career earnings (KFT): $263,392 |