Class of ’16—Players to Watch

(NORTH PLAINS, OR) Each year 25 players leave Pumpkin Ridge with their PGA TOUR Card for the upcoming season and inevitably some of those players find their way to stardom. Names from past years include Justin Thomas (Portland Class of ’14, 2016 CIMB Classic Champion), Smylie Kaufman (Class of ’15, 2016 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open Champion), and Daniel Berger (Class of ’14, 2015 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year & 2016 FedEx St. Jude Classic Champion). It’s only a matter of time before the stars of the Portland Class of ’16 emerge, here are a few names to keep an eye on this PGA TOUR Season.

Richy Werenski- Finishing 2nd on the Regular Season Money List, Werenski arrived in Portland with his place in Sunday’s 25 Card Ceremony assured. Not one to rest on his laurels Werenski surged to a strong T11 finish here in Portland. Winner of the Big Break Palm Beaches season, Werenski shines brightest when the spotlight is on him, and is off and running this season with a T35 finish in the PGA TOUR Season Opener the Safeway Open.

Cheng Tsung Pan- 2016 was a big year for the former University of Washington Husky. Pan represented Chinese Taipei in Rio before coming to Portland where he locked up his PGA TOUR Card after a T4 finish. Pan has all the makings of a star ranking inside the top 10 on the Web.com Tour in putting, scoring average, and all around driving.

Ollie Schniederjans- An outstanding amateur, Schniederjans held the title of #1 ranked amateur in the world for 41 weeks during his time at Georgia Tech. Furthering his credentials Ollie was a 3 time All American and 2 Time ACC Player of the Year. Entering the season Schniederjans had lofty expectations to live up to and did so by finishing 7th on the Money List and securing his PGA TOUR Card in Portland. Look for Ollie near the top of PGA TOUR leaderboards next season as he makes our list of players to watch from the Class of 2016.

Trey Mullinax- Another outstanding amateur player, Trey was part of the Alabama golf team that made history winning back to back National Championships in 2013 & 2014. Mullinax bruises his way around the golf course averaging 305 yards off the tee, an attribute that will suit him nicely on the PGA TOUR. A winner at the Rex Hospital Open, Trey found himself in the Top 10 on 3 other occasions throughout the season. Looking to join his former teammate and Portland alum Justin Thomas as one of the young stars of the PGA TOUR, look for Mullinax to do just that in 2017.