NEWS

Storylines To Watch This Week On The Nationwide Tour
 
Jul. 3, 2007
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  • NATIONWIDE TOUR ALUM BRIAN BATEMAN ADDS YET ANOTHER PGA TOUR WIN -- Brian Bateman's win on Sunday in the Buick Open was the 206th PGA TOUR win by a former Nationwide Tour player and the tenth of 2007. The Louisiana native and LSU grad joined other 2007 winners Paul Goydos, Charley Hoffman, Aaron Baddeley, Mark Wilson, Zach Johnson, Boo Weekley, Nick Watney and Woody Austin.

  • STRONG BUICK OPEN PRESENCE -- The Nationwide Tour has an impact each and every week on the PGA TOUR and the final leaderboard at the Buick Open was a particularly good example. Of the top-10 finishers and ties (14 spots), 10 were players with Nationwide Tour roots, including winner Brian Bateman and two of the runners-up, Jason Gore and Woody Austin.

  • ROLAND THATCHER / IT'S ALL IN THE PUTTING -- Roland Thatcher's success on the 2007 Nationwide Tour can be pinpointed by taking a quick look at the stats, and one stat in particular. The 2000 Auburn University grad who grew up living off the fifth hole at the TPC Woodlands outside Houston, TX has seen dramatic improvement in his putting over the last four seasons. Consider the following Putting Average stats: 2004/PGA TOUR - 182nd, 2005/PGA TOUR - 183rd, 2006/Nationwide Tour - 90th and 2007/Nationwide Tour - T22. On the back nine on Sunday alone at Peek'n Peak, he made clutch putts of approximately 20 and 35 feet to secure his second Nationwide Tour title (2002 Bank of America Monterey Peninsula Classic). Thatcher, 30, has been one of the Tour's most consistent players this year having made eight of his last nine cuts. During this stretch he had a second and a third and finished in the top 25 in the eight events he completed. Heading into Peek'n Peak, he had earned more money without a victory than any other player, good for 10th place on the money list. His $108,000 winner's check moved him to fourth place and within less than $7,000 of No. 2 Nick Flanagan. Demonstrating all-around solid play, Thatcher finished in the top ten in three key stat categories -- fairways hit (T5), greens-in-regulation (T7)and putting average (8th).

  • MORE ON THATCHER -- In his post-win interview, Thatcher commented on how the Nationwide Tour has allowed him to mature as a golfer. "The level of competition on the Nationwide Tour is self-evident. Everywhere you look, the guys who are winning on the PGA TOUR are guys who made stops on the Nationwide Tour," he said. "It's not just PGA TOUR events, it's major championships. You are seeing that the Nationwide Tour is challenging guys and making players better and more capable when they step out on the PGA TOUR. If you can make it out here the right way by playing consistent throughout the year, you will be prepared for the PGA TOUR."

  • THE 25 -- For the first time all year, there were no players moving in or out of THE 25. Chris Riley occupies the 25th and final spot with only $150 separating him and James Driscoll. No. 27 Marc Turnesa trails Driscoll by $446.

  • CLAXTON BUMPS "TWO NICKS" TO TAKE NO. 1 -- The Nationwide Tour has a new name atop the money list for the first time in six weeks. On the strength of his runner-up finish at Peek'n Peak on Sunday, Georgian Paul Claxton jumped over Australian Nick Flanagan and Nicholas Thompson of Coral Springs, FL into the top spot. The pair of Nicks dropped to Nos. 2 and 3, respectively. Flanagan had been No. 1 since capturing the first of his two 2007 wins at the Henrico County Open in April. A recent hernia operation extended a planned two-week break into four (he's expected in Columbus next week). Claxton, Flanagan and Thompson are a lock to earn one of the 25 PGA TOUR cards that will be awarded at the conclusion of the Nationwide Tour season in early November, but Claxton is not resting on his laurels. "This Tour is too good to sit and pat yourself on the back about being No. 1 on the money list," he said. "There are a bunch of guys behind you waiting to beat you next week."

  • PAPPAS BROTHERS LINK WITH TURNESAS TO MAKE HISTORY IN NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL INVITATIONAL -- Deane, Brenden and Craigen Pappas will make professional golf history next week in the inaugural Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational in Columbus, OH. For the first time since 1943 three brothers will compete in the same professional golf tournament. The last to do so were Jim, Joe and Mike Turnesa in the Chicago Victory Open. Craigen Pappas was captain of the Ohio State University golf team in 1986 and '87 and is currently director of golf at The Country Club of Muirfield Village. Ironically, Mike Turnesa's grandson, Marc Turnesa, is scheduled to be in the July 9-15 event at the Ohio State University Scarlet Course.

  • DID YOU KNOW? Six of last year's top-nine finishers in the Legend Financial Group Classic were born outside the United States and in the tournament's first year, 2005, four of the top 10 were international competitors. In 2007, there are 54 players representing 21 countries outside the U.S. on the Nationwide Tour.