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For the second week in a row, significant history has been made on the Nationwide Tour. On Sunday, Daniel Summerhays of Farmington, Utah became the first amateur to capture a Nationwide Tour title in the Tour's 18-year history (1990) when he won the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational at the very difficult Ohio State University Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio. Just last week in Cleveland, Ohio, 19-year-old Australian Jason Day became the youngest winner of a Nationwide Tour and PGA TOUR-sanctioned event.

Summerhays, 23, did not wilt under the final-round pressure as he posted a two-under-par 69 to outlast Chad Collins and Chris Nallen. The Brigham Young senior to-be was second after the first round and a co-leader after the second and third rounds. In the final round, he hit 12 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens in regulation.

Prior to Sunday, the best finish by an amateur on the Nationwide Tour was second place. University of Southern California star Jamie Lovemark lost in a playoff in June at the Rochester Area Charities Showdown at Somerby, while Charles Howell III was a runner-up at the 2000 Greensboro Open. The PGA TOUR, which owns and operates the Nationwide Tour, has had four non-professionals win since 1954 -- Gene Littler/1954, Doug Sanders/1956, Scott Verplank/1985 and Phil Mickelson/1991.

"It's been a really special week," said Summerhays, who put his collegiate career on hold between his freshman and sophomore seasons (2004-05) to embark on a two-year church mission to Chile. "I'll never forget that feeling and that atmosphere. There is nothing like that feeling ... of having people whistle and clap and cheer for you. It makes your heart want to break out of your chest. It feels so good."

"The PGA TOUR and the Nationwide Tour congratulate Daniel Summerhays on his extraordinary accomplishment," said Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee. "Winning on any level is a challenge but beating 143 of the best golfers in the world, including his seven fellow collegiate All-Americans, on one of the toughest courses any professional tour will see this year really stands out. There's no doubt he, as well as Jason Day, who accomplished a remarkable achievement of his own last week, have bright futures ahead of them. We would welcome Daniel should he decide to join the Nationwide Tour as a result of this win. He'd be a wonderful addition to our lineup of talented golfers who aspire to take their game to the PGA TOUR stage."

A better script could not have been written for the unique first-year invitational event, which included eight collegiate First Team All-Americans who otherwise would not have been eligible for the Nationwide Tour stop. Better yet, Summerhays' victory comes in the native hometown of Honorary Chairman Jack Nicklaus, who honed his skills on the same Scarlet Course when he was a member of the Ohio State University men's golf team, on his way to one of the most decorated amateur careers ever.

"Jack (Nicklaus) has always been my favorite player," said Summerhays. "He's a little taller than me, but we're kind of the same strong build. So I've always looked up to him for what he has done and how good he is."

The start was only Summerhays' second on the Nationwide Tour. In 2001, he accepted a sponsor exemption to play in the Utah EnergySolutions Championship after winning the Utah State Amateur championship for the second time (2000 and 2001). Summerhays is the nephew of three-time Champions Tour winner, Bruce Summerhays. His older brother, Boyd, is a member of the Nationwide Tour and was also in the Columbus field (T68).

Summerhays has a decision to make as a result of his win. He has 60 days to declare his Nationwide Tour membership as a professional and be eligible to play the remainder of 2007 and all of 2008. Should the 60 days lapse, he can still accept membership during the Tour's off season and before January 1, 2008 to be a fully-exempt member for the 2008 season.