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Roland Thatcher

Leading money winner Roland Thatcher will have a new man on the bag this week?ESPN.com Golf Editor Jason Sobel. Sobel will spend the entire week working for Thatcher, who is just one victory shy of an automatic promotion to the PGA TOUR, and will file daily reports of his experience. Thatcher's scoring average at Black Creek Club is 68.67. In four starts in Chattanooga, Tenn., Thatcher has one top-10 finish -- a tie for eighth in 2004.

The victory last week by George McNeill was the 215th on the PGA TOUR by a former Nationwide Tour player and the 19th this season.

Only three events remain on the 2007 Nationwide Tour schedule, and the battle for a place among "THE 25" is extremely close. Entering this week's play, Brenden Pappas (#25) holds a slim $432 lead over #26, Franklin Langham.

Richard Johnson

Richard Johnson has three top-six finishes in his last five events. He had played in the final group four times this year without pulling off a victory until he was able to capture the Mark Christopher Charity Classic two weeks ago. Johnson recorded four consecutives birdies on the back nine (13 through 16) and another birdie on the extra hole for his third Tour win. With more than $300,000 earned this season and the sixth spot on the money list, Johnson is assured he will spend 2008 on the PGA TOUR.

Jon Mills has made 11 consecutive cuts, dating to mid-July. In his last seven tournaments, Mills has finished no worse than a tie for 16th, with a victory at the Albertsons Boise Open added in. Since the Melwood Prince George's County Open in late May, Mills has eight top-10 finishes in 15 events.

Matthew Jones has had success in Chattanooga, shooting a final-round 66 to tie for fourth in 2004. Two weeks ago, Jones lost to Richard Johnson at the Mark Christopher Charity Classic, his third runner-up finish in five starts.

Justin Bolli

In the four-year history of this event, the Chattanooga Classic at Black Creek has been decided by no more than one stroke. In 2003 and 2004, Jason Bohn and Justin Bolli each won by a stroke, while the last two tournaments have finished with a playoff.

The first- and second-round leaders have never gone on to win this event, and only once has the third-round leader gone on to victory. Last year, Kyle Reifers came from seven strokes back on the final day to defeat Brandt Snedeker in a playoff.