Celebrating the 20th year: This week in history...

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Feb. 2, 2009

Editor's note: The 2009 season is a special season for the Nationwide Tour; it's the 20th year of being PGA TOUR Driven. All year long, we'll be celebrating the double decade, and as the season gets started, it's a chance to look back...

VIDEO: Nationwide Tour prepares for historic 20th season

The Nationwide Tour will launch its 2009 season at the Panama Digicel Championship, where a year-long celebration will begin as the Tour enters its 20th year. For the past two decades, the Nationwide Tour has grown into the official proving ground of the PGA TOUR. Watch

This week in Nationwide Tour history

Feb. 2 1990	Former PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane Beman struck the ceremonial first shot at Bakersfield Country Club, which officially launched the Nationwide Tour. A field of 131 players teed off that day in the Bakersfield Open.
Feb. 2 1997	Ryan Howison won the inaugural Lakeland Classic by three strokes over Mark Carnevale. Howison cranked out 27 birdies in four days at Grasslands GCC and finished at 19 under. After leading by three after 54 holes, Howison's lead was never seriously challeneged as the former North Carolina Tarheel baseball player made four birdies during a seven-hole stretch midway through the final day. Howison played the final five holes 1 over.
Feb. 3 1991	Greg Peterson recorded the first double eagle in Tour history. Peterson's shot came during the final round of the Bakersfield Open. He shot 72 on the last day and tied for 23rd.
Feb. 4 1990	Mike Springer of Fresno, Calif., captured the first Tour title by two shots over of David Tentis of White Bear Lake, Minn.
Feb. 6 1994	Skip Kendall opened the Tour's fifth season with a wire-to-wire win at the Inland Empire Open in California. Kendall's 19-under total of 197 was six shots better than Emlyn Aubrey. The second round was canceled due to heavy rain, and the event was shortened to 54 holes at Marino Valley Ranch GC.
Feb. 7 1999	Bruce Fleisher won the Royal Caribbean Classic and became the first former Tour member to win on the Champions Tour. He beat Asao Aoki by two strokes at Crandon Park GC in Key Biscayne, Fla. Fleisher also has the distinction of being the first former player to win on the PGA TOUR -- 1991 New England Classic.
Feb. 8 2004	Jimmy Walker shared the first-round lead before taking control of the season-opening BellSouth Panama Championship. Walker played the final 54 holes in just 2-under par, but it was enough to win by five strokes at Panama GC, which turned out to tbe the toughest test on Tour in 2004. Only three players broke par that week, as Walker finished at 7 under and collected his first career win. A two-shot lead after 54 holes grew throughout the final round as Walker's competitors failed to keep pace. Tom Scherrer finished second, and Ryan Armour was third.