Weekly golf notes: Richy Werenski nears PGA Tour card despite odd run of form

To say Richy Werenski has had an all-or-nothing season wouldn’t be far off.

The Bluffton pro’s runner-up finish at Sunday’s El Bosque Mexico Championship was his second in six Web.com Tour starts this season. In the other four, he’s missed the cut.

Hey, it seems to have more upside than not. Werenski now stands seventh on the money list and might need just one more top-five finish to lock up a PGA Tour promotion in the fall.

“It cracks me up to think about it,” Werenski said Wednesday.

It’s not entirely uncommon, especially for a younger generation that has come to realize that the rewards for aggressive play can be far greater than the setback of a free weekend. Consider that world No. 1 Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy all have missed a cut in 2016.

Even Werenski will acknowledge, though, that his case has been a little extreme. After tying for second in Colombia, he faced a six-week layoff in which his swing got a little off. When play started up again, he missed three straight cuts.

A session with swing coach Darren May before heading to Mexico got the parts in working order again. Werenski carded three 66s over the course of the week, finishing four shots behind winner Wes Bryan.

“You can’t let it bother you,” Werenski said. “I know I can win every single week. It’s just kind of weird how it’s worked out so far.”

BROWN GOLF TABS THOMPSON

Rod Thompson, a roving instructor at Brown Golf’s six area courses, has been appointed to oversee all instruction for the Lowcountry portfolio.

Thompson brings 48 years of experience to the position, including three decades as head professional at Kenwood Golf & Country Club in Maryland before coming to Hilton Head Island in 2012. He spent three years at Palmetto Dunes before joining the Brown Golf staff.

A student of noted instructor Jim Hardy, Thompson will be based at Dolphin Head GC on Mondays and Fridays and Crescent Pointe from Tuesdays through Thursdays.

JUNIOR CIRCUIT

Taiwan’s Ian Peng earned a berth in this summer’s renowned IMG Junior Worlds by winning last weekend’s qualifier at Hilton Head Lakes, firing a 6-under-par 66 in the final round to overtake IJGA student Arjun Puri.

Hilton Head Island’s Chase Phillips captured the boys’ 14-and-under division, making up a six-shot deficit with a closing 1-under 73. It was his fifth win on the International Junior Golf Tour this year, though it does not give him an automatic berth in the Junior Worlds.

Japan’s Yuki Sasaki won the girls’ division, two shots ahead of Mexico’s Ximena Gonzalez.

▪ Hilton Head Island’s Savannah Hylton and Jonathan Griz added to their victory totals in the 13-and-under division at the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour’s stop earlier this month at Jekyll Island. Griz claimed his fourth win of 2016; Hylton recorded her third.

BIG EAST BEASTS

Callawassie Island had a hand in a little bit of Big East history last weekend, as Seton Hall became the first team to capture three consecutive women’s championships with a 12-stroke victory over Georgetown.

Georgetown, runner-up to the Pirates all three years, briefly held the lead on the final day before Seton Hall surged over the final nine. Xavier was another nine shots back in third, but had the individual champion in Shane Crutchfield.

The Big East men will take to Callawassie Island starting Sunday for their tournament, with Marquette defending last year’s title.

ACES & AGE-BEATERS

▪ Fred Wolf posted a hole-in-one Wednesday on the seventh hole at Hidden Cypress Golf Club, using a 5-hybrid to hole out from 150 yards. Witnesses were Kevin Christy and Lewis Kraimer.

▪ George Jones, 77, beat his age on April 18 when he carded four birdies on the way to a 76 at Moss Creek’s South course. His playing partners were Buzz Althans, Fred Bonchosky and Walter Ding.

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 1:20 AM with the headline "Weekly golf notes: Richy Werenski nears PGA Tour card despite odd run of form."