Week 10 Power Rankings: The Rex Hospital Open

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Editor's note: Adam Wallace is a media assistant for the Nationwide Tour. Each week, Wallace will size up the field and provide his top five players going into the tournament, based on factors such as the player's strengths, the course setup, recent performances, etc. | POWER RANKINGS: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial

The Nationwide Tour travels to North Carolina's capital, Raleigh, for the 16th playing of The Rex Hospital Open at TPC Wakefield Plantation. It is the only PGA TOUR network club in the state. The par-71, 7,257-yard championship course was designed by World Golf of Hall of Fame member Hale Irwin back in 2000.

Last year, Scott Gutschewski fired a final-round, 6-under 66 to take home the trophy and his second Nationwide Tour title. He was two strokes better than his nearest competitors, Chad Ginn and Esteban Toledo, who both shot 7-under 64 on Saturday when the temperature reached 100 degrees -- a record high for Raleigh at that time of year.

The field of 156 players consists of all eight winners of this year's nine Nationwide Tour events. Also scheduled to play are the top 25 players on the money list. It is mathematically possible for any player to jump inside "THE 25" with a win or a solo, second-place finish this week.

Power Rankings: The Rex Hospital Open

Rank Player   Comment Blake ADAMS Adams said last week that everything clicked in his game, then he had his career-best finish -- a T3 -- at the BMW Charity Pro-Am. Adams averages 312.2 yards off the tee, so it's hard not to pick a him knowing that he'll be hitting a lot of wedges into greens. Michael SIM It is evident at this point that Sim is going to the PGA TOUR next year. He already has two wins and a playoff loss. Another win will give him the automatic three-win promotion to the TOUR. Tomorrow's star on the PGA TOUR is playing this week at The Rex Hospital Open. Jeff GOVE He's played in all nine events, has three top-fives and is No. 10 on the Nationwide Tour money list. With five years of experience on the PGA TOUR and nine years on the Nationwide Tour, this veteran can get the job done. Fabian GOMEZ The Argentinian lost in a playoff to Michael Sim at the BMW Charity Pro-Am and is confident with his game right now. He is currently No. 1 in scrambling; last year, Scott Gutschewski was No. 1 in scrambling during this event, and he went on to win. Esteban TOLEDO He has five starts in 2009, and three of them were top-25s. Last year, he tied for second at this tournament. The former boxer won on the Nationwide Tour in 2005 and can do it again in 2009.