Top rising California stars team up for Zurich Classic

Sahith Theegala and Justin Suh played on the victorious 2018 Palmer Cup team that included Collin Morikawa and Davis Riley

NEW ORLEANS, LA (April 11, 2023)—Sahith Theegala and Justin Suh, two California collegiate stars new to the PGA Tour, are teaming up for the 2023 Zurich Classic, announced Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the tournament.

“Sahith and Justin are two of the most promising young players on the Tour,” said Worthy. “Sahith is in the top 30 in the world rankings, had a top 10 finish in his first Masters, and has already won an unofficial team tournament. Justin contended with a top ten in The Players Championship last month and was Korn Ferry Player of the Year in 2022 ,” Worthy added.

Theegala was a three-time All-American at Pepperdine University. His collegiate career was cut short by the 2020 Covid-19 suspension of competition, when his team was ranked first in the U.S. In 2020 he was awarded the Haksins Award, the Ben Hogan Award and the Jack Nicklaus Award, only the fifth college player to win all three in the same year.

In his first PGA Tour tournament in June 2020, he took 14th in the Safeway Open and secured his card for the 2021-2022 season by finishing sixth in the Korn Ferry Tour Championship.

In only 15 events so far this season, he has finished in the top 25 eight times and in the top 10 six times. His best place this season was a tie for second in the RSM Classic. He finished a solo ninth in this year’s Masters.

Partnered with Tom Hoge, he won the unofficial QBE Shootout in December, 2022. He has already risen to 28th in the world rankings.

Justin Suh has recorded two top 10 finishes this season, a tie for fifth at the Honda Classic and a tie for sixth at The Players Championship.

He hit number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in 2018-19, playing for University of Southern California. While at Southern Cal, he represented the U.S. in the 2018 Eisenhower Trophy together with Cole Hammer and Collin Morikawa, winning the silver medal.

Both Suh and Theegala played on the U.S. 2018 Arnold Palmer team that prevailed over the International team. The Arnold Palmer Cup is competed with teams comprised of both women and men players.

Suh won the Korn Ferry Tour Championship last year to earn his PGA Tour card after posting eight top-10 finishes in 22 starts on that tour. He was voted Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year.

He finished 11th in the 2021 Zurich Classic, teamed with Doug Ghim, who played for the University of Texas before turning pro.

The 2023 Zurich Classic field includes four of the top 10 players in the world to lead another strong field:
· Defending champions Patrick Cantlay, ranked fourth in the world, and Xander Schauffele, ranked sixth have entered.
· They join last year’s runner-up team of Billy Horschel, ranked 26th with Sam Burns, who vaulted to 10th in the world after winning the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play Championship.
· Collin Morikawa, ranked 11th in the world has entered to play with Max Homa, ranked seventh.
· 2022 U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, ranked 16th in the world, will team with his brother Alex.

About Fore!Kids Foundation:

Since 1958, the Fore!Kids Foundation has raised money to fund children’s service organizations through golf events like the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, The Holiday Auction Fore!Kids and several charitable golf tournaments.

In 2022, the Fore!Kids Foundation generated an all-time record $2.7 million in charitable giving for children’s charities in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge metro areas. Charitable contributions have been rising in recent years:
· Over $2.7 Million to charities in 2022
· Over $10 Million to charities in last five years
· Over $45 Million to charities since inception

More information at http://www.forekidsfoundation.com.

About the Zurich Classic of New Orleans:

The Zurich Classic is the only team tournament on the PGA TOUR season. Since launching the team format in 2017, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans has drawn some of the highest-ranking fields for any regular-season tournament on the PGA TOUR.

The Best of the Zurich Classic pass will return in 2023, along with the excitement of close-up action at the Stadium Club by Walk-On’s overlooking the 17th hole.

Televised in more than 224 countries and territories, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans generates a significant economic impact on the city of New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana. Independent research has shown that the tournament generates spending of more than $40 million within the local economy and garners $33 million in positive national and international media exposure for both the city and state throughout the year beyond the four days of competition.

The tournament will be played April 17-23, 2023, at TPC Louisiana in Avondale. Purse for 2023 totals a record $8.6 million, with each member of the winning team earning $1,242,700.

All tickets to the 2023 Zurich Classic will be mobile entry only. Day-specific grounds tickets are only $40. In addition, the Best of the Zurich Class Pass offers a variety of dishes from some of New Orleans most famous restaurants at three locations across the TPC course starting at $175 per day, and the Stadium Club by Walk-On’s will offer close-up viewing at the 17th hole. Additional ticket options are available by calling the Tournament Office at 504-342-3000 or online at www.zurichgolfclassic.com.