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By Adam Wallace
PGA TOUR Staff

The Nationwide Tour heads to Springfield, Mo. this week for the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr. Pepper, one of the Tour's four original stops, along with Boise, Idaho, Wichita, Kan. and Knoxville, Tenn. Highland Springs Country Club is the host venue for the 18th consecutive year, joining Hillcrest Country Club in Boise as the only courses to host a tournament since the Tour's launch in 1990.

The Price Cutter Charity Championship has raised close to $6 million for Ozark-area charities -- $630,284 alone last year -- making it one of the most benevolent tournaments on the Nationwide Tour.

Low scores can be expected at Highland Springs. The winners of the last four tournaments have been 20-under par or better, with 2006 champion Doug LaBelle II setting a tournament record with a score of 261 (27-under par) en route to a two-stroke victory over Nick Flanagan. Justin Bolli, who finished tied for third last year, shot four straight 66s. The 2006 stroke average of 69.502 was the second lowest on the Nationwide Tour. The 7,057-yard Highland Springs layout plays to a par of 36-36-72.

"At Springfield, it's fun because you can make a lot of birdies and you come in thinking you have to make a lot of birdies," Bolli said in looking back on his '06 performance.

Flanagan continues in his quest to regain the top spot on the money list he surrendered to Paul Claxton during an extended four-week break that included a hernia operation. The Australian, who returned last week to finish tied for 27th at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational in Columbus, Ohio, also has his sights set on his third win of 2007, which would give him an immediate promotion to the PGA TOUR. He is currently No. 2 on the money list.

Richmond, Mo. native and resident Michael Letzig returns to his home state. The Nationwide Tour rookie is in the midst of making a very strong run at securing one of THE 25 spots that would earn him 2008 PGA TOUR playing privileges. He is currently No. 21 on the money list. Letzig is joined in the field by six past Price Cutter champions -- 2002 winner Patrick Sheehan, Roger Tambellini ('05), Brad Ott ('04), Tom Carter ('03), Ryan Howison ('99) and Tommy Tolles ('93).

Tight finishes are the norm in the Price Cutter Charity Championship. Only once in the tournament's history has the winner won by more than two strokes. There have been six playoffs and seven times the winner has won by just one stroke.

This is the 19th of 32 Nationwide Tour events. The winner will take home $100,080 from a purse of $556,000.