They Got Their Cards at Dothan
3 Min Read
DOTHAN, Alabama—In 1999 and 2000, the Korn Ferry Tour Championship took place at the RTJ Golf Trail at Highland Oaks. In addition, the Korn Ferry Tour has held early stages of its Qualifying Tournament at the course. As players hope to one day get on the Korn Ferry Tour, it was only fitting that PGA TOUR Canada, which provides such a path, held its Qualifying Tournament there for a fourth time, with Stephen Franken prevailing by a shot over Mark Goetz. Franken, a Korn Ferry Tour veteran, hopes to return for a third Korn Ferry Tour season and an eventual move to the PGA TOUR. Here is a look at the 10 newest PGA TOUR Canada players.
Stephen Franken (United States)
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 12
Career Korn Ferry Tour Starts: 63
Something Worth Knowing: At North Carolina State, where he met his wife, Caroline, Franken was a co-champion with current PGA TOUR player Cameron Young at the 2019 Stitch Intercollegiate. Franken’s first college triumph came in blowout fashion as he won the 2017 Wolfpack Intercollegiate by eights shots over Pontus Nyholm.
Mark Goetz (United States)
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 0
Something Worth Knowing: He was a three-time winner of college tournaments during his time at the University of West Virginia, twice capturing the West Virginia-hosted Mountaineer Invitational and in 2022 winning the Lake Las Vegas Intercollegiate in Nevada.
Mclain Huge (United States)
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 0
Career PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Starts: 7
Career Korn Ferry Tour Starts: 1
Career PGA TOUR Starts: 1
Something Worth Knowing: By winning the 2015 Virginia Amateur, Huge became the first Virginia Tech golfer to win the title since 1951. Huge defeated Mark Lawrence in the match-play final.
Will Chandler (United States)
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 0
Something Worth Knowing: The third time playing at RTJ Golf Trail at Highland Oaks was the charm for Chandler. He played in the 2021 and 2022 PGA TOUR Canada Qualifying Tournaments there, tying for 36th and 46th, respectively, but failing to gain membership before finally earning membership this year.
Colin Monagle (United States)
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 22
Career PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Starts: 19
Career Korn Ferry Tour Starts: 3
Career PGA TOUR Starts: 1
Something Worth Knowing: The 31-year-old Monagle is a second-generation college golfer. His father, John, attended Jacksonville University in Florida, playing on the Dolphin team. Colin also played at Jacksonville, beginning as a baseball player before switching to golf.
Patrick Moriarty (United States)
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 8
Something Worth Knowing: In his only full PGA TOUR Canada season, in 2019, Moriarty’s top finish came at Uplands Golf Club in Victoria, where he tied for 39th.
J.D. Hughes (United States)
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 0
Career PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Starts: 7
Something Worth Knowing: While still at Penn State, Hughes won the 2017 Pennsylvania Amateur at White Manor Country Club in Malvern, defeating teammate Cole Miller and Christopher Ault by five strokes.
a-Connor Howe (United States)
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 0
Career Korn Ferry Tour Starts: 1
Something Worth Knowing: He is not the only college golfer in the Howe family. His twin brother, Hunter, began his collegiate career at Weber State University in the family’s hometown of Ogden, Utah. Hunter has since transferred to the University of Utah.
a-James Swash (England)
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 0
Something Worth Knowing: The name of his hometown in England has nothing to do with golf, but Stockton-on-Tees definitely sounds like it has a relation to the sport. In addition, Hollywood directors and brothers Ridley Scott and Tony Scott both lived in the city in their youth.
a-Riley Bell (United States)
Career PGA TOUR Canada Starts: 0
Something Worth Knowing: His college career at Sacramento State comes to a close later this spring, and then he will focus on his pro career and married life. He became engaged to Kiley Anderson in July 2022.