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PGA TOUR Power Rankings: 2019 Sanderson Farms Championship

By Mike Randleman

JACKSON, MS - OCTOBER 30: The trophy during the Final Round of the Sanderson Farms Championship at the Country Club of Jackson on October 30, 2016 in Jackson, Mississippi. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
JACKSON, MS - OCTOBER 30: The trophy during the Final Round of the Sanderson Farms Championship at the Country Club of Jackson on October 30, 2016 in Jackson, Mississippi. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WEST VIRGINIA – SEPTEMBER 15: Robby Shelton of the United States plays his second shot into the first hole during the final round of A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier held at the Old White TPC course on September 15, 2019 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WEST VIRGINIA – SEPTEMBER 15: Robby Shelton of the United States plays his second shot into the first hole during the final round of A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier held at the Old White TPC course on September 15, 2019 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

It’s all about the young guns this week. That’s fitting, as the last four Sanderson Farms Championship winners were first-timers.

Shelton is a 24-year-old Korn Ferry Tour graduate who was a stud at the University of Alabama for three years before turning pro. His -.72 average in relation to par stands as the best mark in school history. That’s ahead of Justin Thomas among other Crimson Tide stars.

Shelton’s been on the American Walker Cup team, qualified for the U.S. Open as a teenager and won pro events early in his career on the Swing Thought Tour and PGA Tour Canada.

His win in Canada bumped him up to the Korn Ferry Tour last season where he dominated.

Shelton won twice in a three week span in May, claiming the Nashville Golf Open and the Knoxville Open. Too bad this week’s event isn’t in Tennessee.

He finished T-11 in the first Korn Ferry Tour Finals event last month. Last week in his PGA Tour season debut, Shelton tied the low round of the tournament at A Military Tribute at the Greenbrier with a second-round 62 to take the lead. He did that after starting 1-over through three holes.

Shelton fell back with two rounds of 70 for a tie for seventh place. He’s still set up great for the upcoming reshuffle with this finish.

He was in the positive in all strokes gained categories last week, including fourth off the tee (1.076) and 16th in putting (1.131). The latter is important as he was in somewhat of a late-summer swoon.

"“I had a hot April, April-May season, and I was still feeling well, but the putts wouldn’t fall and stuff,” Shelton said last week. “It’s trending again. It’s feeling good again over the ball. It’s exciting that it’s just starting right now.”"

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