Andrew Orischak not keen to seek RBC Heritage exemption

For years now, Andrew Orischak has carried the idea of the day when he could tee it up alongside some of the PGA Tour’s best in his hometown event. Nor has his stock been higher after his runner-up finish at last summer’s U.S. Junior Amateur.

As far as seeking an exemption into the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing, though — well, he’s not ready to go asking.

“No, honestly,” Orischak said last weekend, somewhat bemused by the question. “Obviously, it’s a dream of mine. It would be great, but I know I kind of have to play my way in by winning the Players Amateur. For a guy like me, you kind of have to do that.”

The Players Amateur winner is guaranteed a spot in the 132-man Heritage field, one of eight exemptions given out by the tournament. Reigning champion Matt NeSmith, though, sent word last month that he’d instead join his University of South Carolina teammates at the SEC Tournament that week.

With the unexpected opening, Orischak would seem an attractive alternative.

The Hilton Head High senior nearly spun some Lowcountry magic last July, reaching the U.S. Junior’s match-play final at Colleton River Plantation before falling just short as Philip Barbaree stormed back on the final nine to win in a playoff.

For a prominent junior to receive a PGA Tour exemption isn’t all that uncommon. Tiger Woods was 16 when he got his first exemption into the Nissan Open. Jordan Spieth, also 16, parlayed an exemption into the 2010 Byron Nelson Championship into a top-20 finish.

Both were the reigning U.S. Junior champions at the time. Similarly, Savannah native Brian Harman was a two-time AJGA Player of the Year when the Heritage offered him a sponsor exemption in 2004.

“I’m not the No. 1 junior,” Orischak acknowledged. “If they gave me an exemption, (critics) could say there are 11 or 12 other kids that could have got it as well.”

Fair enough. Orischak is only 25th in the AJGA’s current rankings, though some of that may be a byproduct of not playing as busy a schedule. He tied for 19th at last month’s Sea Pines Junior Heritage.

RBC Heritage tournament chief Steve Wilmot noted the exemption process has “a lot of moving parts” but suggested Orischak would get a fair review.

“They all go into the pool of requests,” he said.

To be considered, though, one has to make the request.

“There’s no harm in asking, I guess. But I haven’t,” Orischak said.

This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 10:11 PM with the headline "Andrew Orischak not keen to seek RBC Heritage exemption."