Johnson caps two-win season with Nationwide Tour finale win  LAKESIDE, Calif. (AP) -- Wales' Richard Johnson won the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship on Sunday to lead 25 qualifiers for the 2008 PGA TOUR, shooting a 4-under 67 for a one-stroke victory over Michael Letzig.  Richard Johnson won the Nationwide Tour Championship Sunday and also finished the season atop the money list. (Horner/WireImage)
Johnson earned $139,500 for his second victory of the year to jump from sixth to first on the money list with $445,421, officially securing a spot next year on the PGA TOUR along with the other top 25 finishers on the developmental tour. "Its nice to be going back," said Johnson, the Mark Christopher Charity Classic winner last month in Rancho Cucamonga. "I didn't come in here expecting to get to the No. 1 spot. I had a fun week." The 35-year-old Johnson finished with a 20-under 264 total on the Barona Creek course, breaking the tournament record of 18-under 270 set by Chris Couch in 2003. Along with fully exempt status on the PGA TOUR, Johnson secured a spot in THE PLAYERS Championship as the money champion. Letzig closed with a 66. He earned $83,700 to jump from 26th to 12th on the money list with $263,948. Martin Laird (66) and Tom Scherrer (68) tied for fourth at 18 under. Laird finished 13th with $252,679, and Tom Scherrer jumped from 27th to 20th with $220,138. Scott Gardiner (66) and Brenden Pappas (67) followed at 17 under. Pappas moved from 25th to 22nd with $212,452, while Gardiner ended up 30th with $184,323 Jimmy Walker finished 25th on the money list with $196,896 -- $1,094 ahead of Skip Kendall for the final PGA TOUR spot. Walker shot a 70 to tie for 34th at 9 under. "I just wanted to go out and play solid and I did for the most part," Walker said. "I figured I was pretty close. I knew I was bubble boy. I had fun. I shot another round under par. I thought four for the week would get it done." B.J. Staten had a chance to knock out Walker, but missed a 15-foot birdie putt on the 17th and a 20-footer on 18. Staten shot a 69 to tie for eighth at 15 under. "It just wasn't my back nine. I hit some good putts, but left them short," said Staten, 28th on the money list. "It's not a lot of fun out there when you know you need to make them to get on the PGA TOUR." The biggest losers were Kendall and David McKenzie. Kendall began the week 22nd on the money list, but missed five birdie putts on the back nine inside 12 feet and couldn't overtake Walker. "You know, it was in my hands," said Kendall, whose 69 left him tied for 21st at 11 under. "I missed a lot of putts all week. That's kind of been my Achilles' heel. It showed here as well. I didn't do it and I really haven't done it in a while." McKenzie also shot a 69 to tie for 21st. He dropped from 23rd on the money list to 27th, $2,240 from the final spot. Players Nos. 26-40 on the final money list are exempt into final stage of the PGA TOUR qualifying tournament. Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. |
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