This week’s Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., could be a nervous time for former Georgia Tech All-America Nicholas Thompson, former World No. 1 Luke Donald and former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel. All three are trying to hang on to their spots inside the top 125 of the FedExCup points list that will qualify them for the playoffs.
The race is very close. No. 126 Scott Langley is only one point behind Schwartzel. There are seven players within 25 points of the magical 125th spot. It doesn’t happen often; only two players have moved up to get into the playoffs so late over the last three years. Last year Sang-Moon Bae moved up and knocked out Thompson.
The long shots hope for a repeat of 2009, when Alpharetta’s Heath Slocum finished No. 124, won the Barclays and finished eighth in the FedEx Cup.
Tiger Woods is also in the Wyndham Field, but needs to win or finish second to make the playoffs. He’s No. 187 on the points list. The winner earns 300 FedEx points.
Those in the top 125 earn a place in the playoffs, which begin next week at the Barclays. The field is cut to 100 players for the Deutsche-Bank Championship in Boston and then cut to 70 for the BMW Championship in Chicago. The top 30 players advance to The Tour Championship at East Lake, Sept. 24-27.
Kennerly wins Canadian Am: Billy Kennerly of Alpharetta, a recent graduate of Clemson, blitzed the field and won the Canadian Amateur championship by seven shots. Kennerly birdied four of his final nine holes to finish at 12-under. The victory gives Kennerly an exemption into the 2016 Canadian Open. This week he's playing in the U.S. Amateur championship.
“To win where Arnold Palmer won his first tournament, that’s really special and something I’ll never forget,” Kennerly said. “I’m honored to be the Canadian Amateur champion.”
Tardy reaches quarters at U.S. Am: Norcross resident Bailey Tardy reached the round of 16 at the U.S. Women's Amateur before bowing out 2 and 1 to Anna Newell of Tampa. Tardy will be a freshman this fall at the University of Georgia. The championship was played at the Portland (Ore.) Golf Club.
Mariah Stackhouse of Riverdale also reached match play, but lost 1 up in the first round to Elizabeth Wan of San Marino, Calif.
Changes for Gwinnett Championship: The Greater Gwinnett Championship will make an announcement Thursday, believed to be regarding a title sponsor for the event. Mitsubishi Electric Cooling and Heating has been the presenting sponsor for the event's first three years.
There won’t be a date change for 2016. The tournament, which has endured weather woes each year, is scheduled for April 11-17, 2016, at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth.
Etc.: Georgia senior Lee McCoy was among the first five players named to the U.S. Walker Cup team that will compete against a British team on Sept.12-13 at Royal Lytham in Lancashire, England. The other five members will be named at the conclusion of the U.S. Amateur. … Duluth's Scott Dunlap defends his title this week at the Champion Tour's Boeing Classic in Washington. … The Tourney for TurningPoint to benefit breast cancer rehabilitation will be played Aug. 30-31 at Dunwoody Country Club. The tournament helped the clinic serve 400 new patients last year.
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