There definitely will be a new champion crowned at this week’s Georgia Open, which begins Thursday at Pinetree Country Club in Kennesaw. The question is whether one of the Georgia PGA professionals can turn aside the annual challenge from the mini-pros.
Tour players have won the Georgia Open in 17 of the past 19 years since Marietta Country Club’s Stephen Keppler went back-to-back in 1994-95. The only Georgia PGA professionals to win since are Jeff Hull (2007) and Tim Weinhart (2004).
Otherwise it’s been a long list of victorious touring pros, such as two-time winner Jonathan Fricke of Snellville. The Georgia State product had been playing the mini-tours, but now has status on the Web.com Tour and will not defend his Georgia Open titles. Fricke won by seven shots last year. He is 94th on the Web.com Tour’s money list.
Among the favorites from the mini-tours are Jay McCluen of Forsyth, who won the Georgia Open in 2012, and 2011 winner Samuel Del Val of Athens.
The top Georgia PGA pros in the field include Sonny Skinner of Albany, Craig Stevens of Dallas and Kyle Owen of Dunwoody.
There are a number of top amateurs in the field, including David Noll Jr. of Dalton, Billy Mitchell of Atlanta, as well as Jimmy Beck and Kelby Burton of Kennesaw State, who play their home matches at Pinetree. Beck won the 2013 Georgia Amateur at Pinetree.
Former Braves pitcher John Smoltz is in the field for the fifth year. He will be paired with Pinetree professional Rob Williams and award-winning golf broadcaster Brian Katrek.
FedEx Cup on display: The Tour Championship will give fans a chance to have their picture made with the FedEx Cup this summer. The trophy, given to the winner of the PGA Tour's season finale, will be making stops at a variety of locations, starting with the PGA Tour Superstore in Roswell from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. The entire schedule can be found at pgatour.com/fedexcuptour
State Banks giving Am tickets: State Bank and Trust is giving away tickets to local youth organizations for the final round of the U.S. Amateur, Aug. 9-17 at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Groups can register for the vouchers at www.usamateur.statebt.com. The bank's branches in Buckhead, Norcross, Alpharetta and Sugarloaf are also giving away 500 vouchers to anyone up to age 23 who comes into the branch.
Etc.: Brenda Pictor of Marietta shot 72 and was medalist at the qualifier for the U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur at Rivermont. … The Georgia-South Carolina Junior Challenge Match ended in an 8-8 tie. Johnathan Keppler of Marietta, Spencer Ralston of Gaineville and Tye Waller of Griffin won both of their matches for Georgia. … Add Mercer's Hans Reimers to the list of U.S. Amateur qualifiers. He qualified in Eugene, Ore. … Australian Kade McBride won the Oglethorpe Invitational at Wilmington Island in Savannah. The top Georgia finisher was Shad Tuten of Elberton, who tied for sixth. … Scott Wolfes of St. Simons and Ted Moon of Lilburn reached match play of the U.S. Public Links Championship before being eliminated. No woman from Georgia made it to match play.
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