Fortinet Cup, Week 7: PGA TOUR University alumni make presence felt

With Frederik Kjettrup claiming the title at The Beachlands Victoria Open presented by Times Colonist, the players from the 2024 class of PGA TOUR University had a significant impact in the opening week of the PGA TOUR Americas North America Swing. Kjettrup collected 500 points to charge inside the Fortinet Cup standings top 10 on his PGA TOUR Americas debut, which was also his second start as a professional after competing at the U.S. Open the week before.

The following is a look at the Fortinet Cup leading players through Week 7 of the 16-week season:

1. Matt Anderson, Canada (867 points)

Back in his home country after a stellar Latin Swing that saw him record three top-three finishes including a win at the ECP Brazil Open, the 24-year-old from Mississauga missed his first cut of the season. Although a weekend off was not the plan, he lightened up by throwing the ceremonial first pitch at the Victoria HarbourCats game on Friday night.

2. Clay Feagler, United States (743 points)

He had a strong week with four rounds of 67 or better to finish solo third at 19-under. This was his first top-25 finish since his victory at the season-opening Bupa Championship at Tulum last March. The 190 Fortinet Cup points earned allowed him to move from sixth to third in the standings.

3. Harry Hillier, New Zealand (741 points)

Coming off a dominating victory in Colombia where he shot a 59 and won the final Latin Swing event by eight shots, Hillier had two bogey-free rounds of 65 or better to finish tied for 22nd in Victoria. Although he dropped to third in the standings, he trails second-place holder Feagler by only two points.

4. José de Jesús Rodríguez, Mexico (661 points)

Making his return to Uplands Golf Club, where he won this event in 2011 under the Canadian Tour umbrella, Rodríguez had a slow weekend of 70-71 to tie for 61st. He dropped from third to fourth in the standings but remains the leading Latin player on Tour.

5. Stuart Macdonald, Canada (630 points)

The Diners Club Peru Open champion did not play last week in Victoria but is scheduled to make his North America swing debut this week at the ATB Classic. He dropped from fourth to fifth in the standings.

6. Thomas Longbella, United States (619 points)

The Kia Open champion got off to a slow start, posting a 2-over 72 to tie for 134th through 18 holes. Although he fought hard, his second round of 4-under 66 proved insufficient as he missed the cut by two strokes. He dropped from fifth to sixth in the standings.

7. Samuel Anderson, United States (589 points)

Building on a strong Latin Swing where he finished eighth on the standings, he put together four rounds of 67 or better to finish solo fourth in Victoria. His third top-10 of the season helped him to move up a spot in the standings.

8. Conner Godsey, United States (501 points)

Tied for sixth through 54 holes, a final round of 71 saw him slip into a tie for 16th at 13-under in Victoria. With his fourth top-25 finish in his last five starts on Tour, he moved up from ninth to eighth in the standings.

9. Frederik Kjettrup, Denmark (500 points)

Making his Tour debut out of the PGA TOUR University Class of 2024, the 24-year-old from Aabybro, Denmark, stayed inside the top two all four days in Victoria. He posted rounds of 63-64-64 to open a three-shot lead through 54 holes and secured the one-shot win with a final-round 68.

10. Julián Etulain, Argentina (461 points)

A bogey on his last hole, No. 9, on Friday proved costly: With rounds of 69-68, he finished at 3-under to miss the cut by one shot. The missed cut saw him drop from seventh to 10th in the standings.

Most significant move outside the top 10:

12. Mateo Fernández de Oliveira, Argentina (407 points)

Shooting 63-63 on the weekend, the 24-year-old from Buenos Aires came close to pulling off the come-from-behind win in Victoria. He finished at 20-under, only one shot behind tournament winner Kjettrup. The solo second finish, his best in 11 months as a pro, allowed him to gain 39 spots in the standings. A University of Arkansas alum, Fernández de Oliveira joined the Tour as a 2023 PGA TOUR University graduate.

Next stop:

The race for the Fortinet Cup continues this week at the ATB Classic, to be hosted at Northern Bear Golf Course in Strathcona County, Alberta (June 27-30).