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AGC Alum Richy Werenski is ready for the PGA Tour
14 Dec 2016
by Sam Dostaler of AmateurGolf.com

see also: Richy Werenski Rankings

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Richy Werenski after his Web.com Tour BMW Charity Pro-Am victory <br>(Web.com Tour Photo)
Richy Werenski after his Web.com Tour BMW Charity Pro-Am victory
(Web.com Tour Photo)

(December 14, 2016) -- With nine holes remaining in the Web.com Tour's BMW Charity Pro-Am this past May former AmateurGolf.com member Richy Werenski was closing in on his dream, a victory and full status on the PGA Tour. As Werenski made the turn on that Sunday in May he was in a three-way tie for the lead, but some back nine heroics, including back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th holes pushed Werenski to the finish line and his first career win on the Web.com Tour.

The victory, which followed two second place finishes earlier in the season moved Werenski to No. 2 on the Web.com Tour money list and it ensured him a spot in the all important PGA Tour card earning top 25.

"The win at the (BMW Charity) definitely freed me up," Werenski said. "Before that win I had finished second twice so before that win I had already locked up my Web.com Tour card for the following year. I got to the point where I knew I was good enough to win and I felt like it was a matter before I would win."

Originally from South Hadley, Massachusetts but now living in Jupiter, Florida, Werenski has taken that same confidence to the PGA Tour and with his rookie season already underway the kid from New England has made three made cuts in the five 2016-2017 wrap around season events.

"It's pretty cool when your on the range and you see Phil (Mickelson) and big name guys out there and then your on the putting green with hundreds of people watching the practice green watching, that is pretty cool," said Werenski, whose best finish came in his first start at the Safeway Open where he shared 35th.

Heading into the 2016 Web.com Tour season Werenski wasn't necessarily a favorite to earn his PGA Tour card after putting together a debut season that saw him finish no better then the top-25 four-times in 20 events. However, besides learning to adjust to the travel, the biggest improvement in Werenski's game came thanks to a training program at the West Palm Beach, Florida located Every Ball Counts. Werenski was able to sharpen his game and push himself into the upper echelons of the Web.com Tour by learning how to have more focused practices that worked on improving the areas of his game that needed the most work.

Werenski, the son of PGA professional, started to dream of playing on the PGA Tour as a high schooler at South Hadley High School and then after transferring during his sophomore year to the International Junior Golf Academy in Hilton Head, South Carolina he made it his goal. Following a successful junior career Werenski signed with Georgia Tech and just as he was about to begin his third year with the Yellow Jackets his breakout moment arrived.

Playing in the prestigious Porter Cup Werenski was lights out shooting four subpar rounds to finish 17-under-par and as the winner by two. His week was highlighted by a second round 8-under-par 62.

"After I won the Porter Cup I thought, man I am beating really good players who are definitely going to go to the PGA Tour one day and I am in that same category," Werenski said. The impact of the win however wasn't immediate for Werenski as he struggled during his junior year at Georgia Tech and was even suspended for a time due to anger management problems. However, following the suspension Werenski returned refocused and as a senior be twice finished inside the top-5.

Immediately after graduating Werenski entered the professional ranks and he made an instant splash winning three of his first five events while losing another in a playoff. The hot start helped Werenski earn a spot on the Golf Channel's widely popular Big Break where he produced his professional breakthrough moment by winning the competition and earning an exemption into the 2015 PGA Tour's Barbasol Championship, an event that he made the cut in.

"My confidence is through the roof right now," Werenski told Golf Channel after winning Big Break: The Palm Beaches. "I thought I was good enough to win this and I knew that if I played my game that I would have a really good chance and now I just feel that much better about my game."

That confidence hasn't left Werenski and as the soon to be 25-year-old stated he believes he is on the track to bigger and better things, "The biggest thing is to just keep doing what I was doing on the Web.com Tour, its not that much different on the PGA Tour. Whatever I was doing to get me out here is good enough to win out here. I think that is the big thing, believing in that and trusting in that."

Werenski is hoping to restart his season in Hawaii but he is waiting to see if he automatically qualifies or if he will have to play in a Monday qualifier. After Hawaii he plans on playing in the first three events of the California swing.

"My number one goal is to keep my card and finish top 125," Werenski said of his 2017 objectives. "But another goal is to win. I know I am good enough, I think it is just a matter of time until it happens."

As for us at AmateurGolf.com we have know doubt that the matter of time will come sooner rather than later and our whole staff wishes him continued luck and success!

Additional Notes about Richy Werenski

-His younger brother Mickey is a senior on the Texas A&M golf team

-Both his parents played golf, his mother Susan played at Rollins College while his father Michael played at American International College

-Werenski is excited to be a member of the New England fraternity of golfers on the PGA Tour, "It is awesome, just to be in the same category as some of the guys who have come out of New England. I feel like I have a pretty good fan base, you get areas where there are a lot of tour pros like in the south and there are a lot of different people to root for but being from New England I feel like I have a huge fan base and it is just awesome. I have always gotten the support from them and there are always younger kids that are in the game messaging me and asking for advice. It is awesome."

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