Week 13 Power Rankings: Fort Smith Classic

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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: U.S. Open

This week the Nationwide Tour leaves Tennessee for Arkansas and the 13th event of the year, the Fort Smith Classic. Hardscrabble Country Club presents itself to the field of 156 players for the 12th consecutive year. Over the years the scores have varied from 20-under par (1998/Mark Hensby) to 8-under par (2003/Zach Johnson).

Of the 32 courses on the 2009 schedule, only seven are less than 7,000 yards long. The par-70, 6,783-yard Hardscrabble CC was the third shortest course on Tour last year, but it was ranked the 16th most difficult.

Only 63 percent of the field found the short grass last year and just 62 percent found the putting surface in regulation. Missing the fairway is a huge penalty at Hardscrabble CC -- a mere 47 percent hit the green after missing the fairway last year and those who missed the green got up and down just 58 percent of the time.

There will be a premium on accuracy this week from tee to green, but since this week is "lucky No. 13" then anything goes.

Power Rankings: Fort Smith Classic presented by Stephens, Inc.

Rank Player   Comment Alex PRUGH He's made the last four cuts and recorded two top-10 finishes while hovering at No. 3 on the money list. Last week he hit 77 percent of the greens in regulation, bringing his average for the year to 73 percent (33rd). Kevin JOHNSON Johnson recorded his second win of the year last week at the Knoxville Open. He's been on a tear in his previous six events with a T15, T9, T19, 1st, T12 and 1st, and another win this week will give him an instant promotion to the PGA TOUR. Blake ADAMS Adams recently moved to the No. 1 spot in Driving Distance, averaging 309.4 yards. He also hits the fairway 73 percent (42nd) of the time. Hitting the ball a long way and having approach shots from the short grass explains why he's No. 3 in scoring average (69.55). Chad COLLINS He leads the Tour in par-3 scoring (2.91) and there are five par 3s at Hardscrabble CC. Last year's winner, Colt Knost, was 5 under on the par-3 holes. Though Collins has missed the past two cuts, but he hasn't shot above 72 in his last three events. Garrett WILLIS Willis hasn't missed a cut in 2009. He's 21st in driving accuracy (76%), 27th in greens in regulation (73%) and 12th in scrambling (64%). Willis also has some great history here; he finished runner-up in 2007.