NEWS

Three events remain for Team Nationwide members in 2007
 
Oct. 15, 2007
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Four Fall Series tournaments are down, and only three are left for the members of Team Nationwide and the rest of the players on the PGA TOUR to try to cement their places for next season.

John Merrick
John Merrick could make his autumn a lot easier with a strong finish in Scottsdale. (Badz/PGA TOUR/WireImage)

Team Nationwide members Brandt Snedeker and Boo Weekley are all set for 2008 -- and 2009 -- by virture of winning tournaments already this year. And Ken Duke (40th on the current money list), Jeff Quinney (54th) and Cliff Kresge (110th) look to be in good shape to finish the season within the top 125 on the money list, which would guarantee their spots on the 2008 PGA TOUR.

Several other Team Nationwide members are just on the far side of the top-125 line and need to finish the season strongly to guarantee full playing privileges for next year. Closest to the cut line are No. 126 Craig Kanada with $695,280; No. 130 John Merrick with $628,333; No. 132 Doug LaBelle II with $585,198; No. 136 Jason Dufner with $530,262; No. 138 Gavin Coles with $511,353; No. 144 Andrew Buckle with $479,710; and No. 148 Tripp Isenhour with $457,419.

Of those players, Coles and Dufner helped themselves the most last week at the Frys.com Open in Las Vegas. Both tied for 50th place and picked up $9,740 each -- not a lot, but at this point in the season, every little bit helps.

The tournament this week, the Frys Electronics Open, will be played over the Raptor Course at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, a classic desert layout with large bunkers and big greens that requires a combination of power and precision. None of the Team Nationwide "bubble boys" stands out above the others in terms of a track record there -- this is a new event on the PGA TOUR schedule.

But three of them made the cut at the FBR Open in nearby Phoenix in the spring. John Merrick tied for 23rd, while Jason Dufner tied for 63rd and Tripp Isenhour tied for 71st. All three are in the field, as are Gavin Coles, Ken Duke, Craig Kanada, Cliff Kresge, Doug LaBelle II, Jarrod Lyle, Michael Putnam, Jeff Quinney, Michael Sim and Brandt Snedeker. Bryce Molder and Jim Rutledge are among the alternates.