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By PGA TOUR Staff

The Nationwide Tour heads to the California wine country this week for the first of three stops in the Golden State during 2007 at the second annual Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship.

Ricky Barnes will be among the fan-favorites in Wine Country this week. (Badz/PGA TOUR/WireImage)

Situated 45 minutes east of San Francisco in the picturesque rolling hills of Livermore Valley, the field of 144 players will vie for their share of the $625, 000 purse on The Course at Wente Vineyards. Designed by golf legend Greg Norman, the par-72 course proved to be a formidable challenge last year, playing to a stroke average of 74.881 to make it the most difficult layout on the 2006 Nationwide Tour.

Leading the pack in Livermore is last week's winner, Skip Kendall, who claimed his third Nationwide Tour title by defeating Paul Claxton in a three-hole playoff at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open. Kendall is currently fourth on the money list, trailing fellow competitors Scott Sterling (No. 1), Nicholas Thompson (No. 2) and Miguel Carballo (No. 3).

Several local favorites dot the field including Todd Fischer, a resident of nearby Pleasanton who captured his first Nationwide Tour title at the 2002 Fort Smith Classic. The 1993 graduate of the University of San Francisco is seeking a return to the PGA TOUR where he played from 2003-2006.

Joining Fischer is Stockton native Ricky Barnes, winner of the 2002 U.S Amateur and a fan favorite each week on Tour. Barnes has been a Nationwide Tour member since 2004 and enjoyed a consistent season on Tour last year, with 24 made cuts in 26 appearances.

A handful of PGA TOUR winners are also in the field including Steve Jones (8 wins), Steve Pate (6), Jim Gallagher (5), Gary Hallberg (3) and Len Mattice (2).

The Golf Channel will offer exclusive coverage of the Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship starting Thursday, March 29 at 6:30 p.m. ET.

The Nationwide Tour heads to Georgia for a two-week swing starting April 9 at the inaugural South Georgia Classic in Valdosta.