Power Rankings: Dormie Network Classic at Briggs Ranch
By Kevin Prise • PGA Tour • April 22, 2019
University of Texas alum Scottie Scheffler arrives in San Antonio at No. 3 on the Web.com Tour Points List. (Ben Jared/PGA TOUR)
For the first time since 2015, the Web.com Tour proceeds to Texas, as this week marks the inaugural Dormie Network Classic at Briggs Ranch.
On the second leg of the 17-week stretch to conclude the 2019 Web.com Tour Regular Season, players will compete at Briggs Ranch Golf Club in San Antonio, a Tom Fazio design that was developed in 2001.
Through the first eight Web.com Tour events of 2019, the winner’s circle has maintained a distinct veteran presence. All eight champions entered the season with prior Web.com Tour experience, including last week’s winner Lanto Griffin, who outlasted Robby Shelton in a four-hole playoff at the inaugural Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Championship.
Griffin’s victory moves him to No. 9 in The 25 standings, and Shelton’s runner-up places him at No. 12, as players battle to secure The 25 available PGA TOUR cards upon the conclusion of the Regular Season-ending WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by Kraft-Heinz.
Will we see our first rookie winner of 2019 this week in the Lone Star State? Here are 10 players to watch.
1. Tyler McCumber. The reigning Mackenzie Tour Order of Merit winner now holds the top spot on The 25, with six top-25 finishes in eight starts including a T3 last week in Alabama. Could this be the week for his first Web.com Tour victory?
2. Scottie Scheffler. The University of Texas alum has been a well-oiled machine throughout his rookie season, with three top-five finishes including a solo fifth last week in Alabama. He also finished T20 at the Valero Texas Open earlier this month.
3. Lanto Griffin. Propelled by an impromptu putting lesson from 34-time TOUR winner Vijay Singh, the 30-year-old secured his second Web.com Tour title last week and will carry plenty of momentum to Texas.
4. Robby Shelton. The Alabama native held at least a share of the lead through each round in his home-state event, but fell just short of his first Web.com Tour title on the fourth playoff hole. A softened putting grip could continue to propel him.
5. Charlie Saxon. The Oklahoma native was 6-over through five holes last week, but rallied to record a career-best T10. He’s fourth on Tour in driving distance and No. 16 in greens in regulation.
6. Austin Smotherman. The Southern Methodist alum made a late Sunday charge in Alabama, en route to a season-best T3. He’s now No. 26 on the Points List as he eyes his first PGA TOUR card.
7. Doug Ghim. The proud Longhorn alum has made five of six Web.com Tour cuts this season and stands No. 28 on the Points List as he aims to break inside The 25. He’s sixth on Tour in scoring average.
8. Will Zalatoris. The Wake Forest product is trying to follow the Beau Hossler-J.T. Poston-Martin Trainer path of converting no status into a TOUR card, as he has recorded back-to-back top-25 finishes to earn a spot in San Antonio.
9. Jimmy Stanger. The Virginia alum has made six cuts in seven starts this season, including a T8 last week in Alabama. He’s seventh on Tour in scoring average, and No. 21 on The 25.
10. Greg Yates. The last time we competed in the Lone Star State, the Texas A&M alum recorded a career-best T2 at the 2015 Greater Dallas Open, and he is riding a streak of four consecutive made cuts.
Original article written by Kevin Prise of PGATOUR.com on April 22, 2019.
