Former Georgia Tech standout Richy Werenski won the Golf Channel’s “Big Break The Palm Beaches” and earned a spot in the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship, which debuts in July in Opelika, Ala.
Werenski won four of the final five holes to beat Justin Martinson of Savannah in the championship match, clinching the win with a birdie on the 17th hole. Werenski won $60,000, an endorsement deal from Adams Golf, $10,000 in car rental credit and $10,000 in travel credit.
“My confidence is through the roof right now,” Werenski said. “I can’t wait to get in that PGA Tour event and see what I can do.”
Werenski, 23, turned pro last spring after he graduated from Tech and won three of his first five professional mini-tour events.
Around the Tours: Swainsboro's Blake Adams took a big step toward retaining his PGA Tour card when he tied for 11th at last week's RBC Heritage. Adams won $129,800, leaving him 10 events to earn $353,666 and keep his exemption via the major medical extension. Adams is recovering from hip replacement surgery. … Nick Faldo will make his final appearance in the British Open this summer when the event returns to St. Andrews. It will mark the 25th anniversary of his second British Open championship. Five-time winner Tom Watson earlier said this will be his farewell appearance at the British Open.
Around the colleges: Georgia Southern won the Sun Belt Conference tournament and received an automatic spot in the NCAA tournament. Southern's Kim Kolvu and Scott Wolfes finished one-two among individuals. Georgia State was fourth and must wait until May 4 to see if it receives an at-large invitation. … Georgia tied for seventh at the SEC championship at Sea Island. Zach Healy tied for 11th to lead the Bulldogs. … Kennesaw State was second in the Atlantic Sun championship, with Jimmy Beck tying for second place. … Georgia Tech plays in the ACC championship this weekend in New London, N.C. … Georgia Tech's Ollie Schniederjans and Georgia's Lee McCoy are among 10 finalists for the Ben Hogan Award, presented annually to the nation's top college golfer, taking into account all collegiate and amateur competitions over the last 12 months. Schniederjans and McCoy, along with Georgia Tech's Anders Albertson, last week were named to the U.S. Palmer Cup team.
Etc.: The Atlanta Athletic Club is celebrating the retirement of Georgia Golf Hall of Fame member Ken Mangum, the director of courses and grounds, with a special event on May 2. Mangum is retired on May 31 after 27 years at the club, during which time he oversaw three PGA Championships, the U.S. Mid-Am and the U.S. Amateur. … Mike Paull, executive director of the Georgia PGA, is raising money for the Georgia PGA Foundation and Angels Among Us Pet Rescue by playing as many holes as he can on May 11. Paull has pledged $1 per hole and is looking for other donors at ww.PGAGolfDay.com/Georgia.
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