They got their PGA TOUR Canada cards at Mission Inn
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HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Florida—It was an amateur who stole the show at the second PGA TOUR Canada Qualifying Tournament that concluded Friday. On a windy final day at Mission Inn Resort and Club, Jonathan Yaun slowly pulled away, recording a five-stroke victory over three players. Yaun’s plan is to remain an amateur until his Liberty University NCAA season is complete. He will then turn pro and be eligible to play in every PGA TOUR Canada tournament, a schedule of events the Tour plans to announce the week of March 12. Nine other players also earned guaranteed tournament starts with their play in Central Florida. Next week, the Tour moves to Dothan, Alabama, for its third qualifier. Here’s a brief look at the Tour’s 10 newest members.
a-Jonathan Yaun (United States)
Qualifying Tournament Finish: Won
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 0
Something Worth Knowing: He is a second-generation college golfer. After his father played collegiately at Jacksonville University in Florida, eventually earning a spot in the school’s athletic hall of fame, the younger Yaun signed and played at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Still an amateur, Jonathan Yaun has reached as high as No. 80 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
George Kneiser (United States)
Qualifying Tournament Finish: Tied for Second
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 9
Career Korn Ferry Tour Starts: 2
Something Worth Knowing: This is the second consecutive year Kneiser has earned his PGA TOUR Canada playing privileges at Mission Inn Resort and Club. A year ago, he fired a final-round 65 to tie for eighth. That led to a nine-tournament showing during the 2022 PGA TOUR Canada season.
John Pak (United States)
Qualifying Tournament Finish: Tied for Second
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 0
Career PGA TOUR Starts: 14
Career Korn Ferry Tour Starts: 16
Something Worth Knowing: In his PGA TOUR debut while still an amateur, Pak played in the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. He opened with a 1-under 69 and was tied for 14th through 18 holes. He eventually tied for 60th, the only amateur to make the cut.
Cole Bradley (United States)
Qualifying Tournament Finish: Tied for Second
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 0
Something Worth Knowing: His father, Rob, is the head men’s golf coach at Purdue University, where his son played collegiately. Prior to Purdue, Dad was an assistant coach at the University of North Florida and at the University of Alabama who played professionally on the Korn Ferry Tour, appearing in 136 total tournaments between 1997 and 2008.
Kyle Hogan (United States)
Qualifying Tournament Finish: Fifth
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 0
Career PGA TOUR Starts: 1
Something Worth Knowing: He played collegiately at Texas Tech, where he was teammates with current PGA TOUR Latinoamérica member Sandy Scott and current PGA TOUR University No. 1-ranked Ludvig Åberg, who made the cut this week in the PGA TOUR’s Arnold Palmer Invitational. Hogan made it to as high as No. 77 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking before turning pro.
Thomas Giroux (Canada)
Qualifying Tournament Finish: Sixth
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 4
Something Worth Knowing: In 2021, Giroux led his Oakland University team to the Horizon League conference championship, a first for the Grizz. Giroux also won the individual title that season, and the following year he became the first Oakland player to represent the school in the NCAA Championship.
Bryce Emory (United States)
Qualifying Tournament Finish: Tied for Seventh
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 3
Career Korn Ferry Tour Starts: 9
Something Worth Knowing: At 6-foot-6, he will be one of the tallest players on PGA TOUR Canada in 2023. As a prep player at Marmion Academy, he was not only the Suburban Catholic Conference Player of the Year in golf for three consecutive seasons, he was also a two-year varsity basketball letterman and a first-team All-DailyHerald first team selection.
Ryder Sutcliffe (United States)
Qualifying Tournament Finish: Tied for Seventh
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 0
Something Worth Knowing: His tie for seventh at Mission Inn Resort and Club represented his first appearance of any kind in a PGA TOUR-affiliated Tour tournament.
Brian Richey (United States)
Qualifying Tournament Finish: Tied for Seventh
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 5
Career PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Starts: 26
Career Forme Tour Starts: 1
Career Korn Ferry Tour Starts: 105
Something Worth Knowing: In Uruguay in 2017, Richey opened 65-63 at Club de Lago Golf, added two more rounds in the 60s and coasted to a four-shot victory at PGA TOUR Latinoamérica’s Roberto De Vicenzo Punta del Este Open. Interestingly, his 63 included a double bogey to start the round.
Michael Sweeney (United States)
Qualifying Tournament Finish: 10th
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 0
Something Worth Knowing: The 27-year-old Sweeney did not play collegiate golf, and he has never made a PGA TOUR-affiliated Tour start, with almost all of his competitive golf taking place on Florida mini tours.