Approach Shots: Nationwide Children's Hospital Inv.

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OSU's Scarlet Course has shown its teeth at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational.

Quick Facts

WHAT: 16th of 29 Nationwide Tour events WHEN: July 30-Aug. 2 WHERE: Columbus , Ohio COURSE: The Scarlet Course ROUND 1 TV: GOLF 6:30-8:30 p.m./12:30-2:30 a.m. ET ROUND 2 TV: GOLF 6:30-8:30 p.m/12 a.m.-2 a.m. ET ROUND 3 TV: GOLF 6:30-8:30 p.m/12 a.m.-2 a.m. ET ROUND 4 TV: GOLF 7-9:30 p.m./12 a.m.-2 a.m. ET WHAT'S AT STAKE: $775,000 ($139,500 for winner) KEY LINKS: Tee times | Leaderboard Tournament page | "THE 25"

The venerable Ohio State University Golf Club's Scarlet Course has proven to be a stern test in the previous two years it has hosted the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational. In 2007, amateur Daniel Summerhays won with a 6-under total, and Bill Lunde won a year ago at 5-under.

The third installment of this event, held in the city where Nationwide's headquarters is located, is this week, with players continuing to battle for money-list position, vying to be among "The 25," the top-25 money leaders who, at the end of the season, will graduate to the 2010 PGA TOUR. Michael Sim remains the money leader, holding a $161,134 advantage over Kevin Johnson.

HOLE-IN WIN: Bill Lunde earned his first career title at last year's tournament, beating Dustin Bray by a stroke. Lunde capped the win with a dramatic chip-in birdie on the final hole to earn the win and collect the winner's check of $135,000. Lunde's winning shot came shortly after playing partner Josh Broadaway holed his second shot from the fairway for an eagle-2.

THE COLLEGE TRY: This week's event will once again welcome the best collegiate golfers in the United States to the field. The tournament will feature the 2009 Golf Coaches Association of America award winners and first-team All-America selections. Eight of the 10 All-Americans have accepted invitations. They are Rickie Fowler (Oklahoma State), Matthew Giles (USC), Morgan Hoffman (Oklahoma State), Billy Horschel (Florida), Nick Taylor (Washington), Cameron Tringale (Georgia Tech), Kyle Stanley (Clemson) and Mike Van Sickle (Marquette).

OHIO NATIVES: Several players on the Nationwide Tour who have ties to Columbus and Ohio will be competing this week. Ryan Armour and Craig Kanada both attended Ohio State University; Kyle Reifers was born in Columbus, and Bob Sowards lives in Dublin, a Columbus suburb. Jim Herman attended the University of Cincinnati, and Tee McCabe attended Miami University. Jon Mills, David Morland IV and Bryan DeCorso all attended Kent State.

TOUGH TRACK: The famed Scarlet Course was among the most difficult on the Nationwide Tour in 2008. The par-71 course played to a scoring average of 72.649, making it No. 5 on the list of toughest courses last year. The previous year the course ranked as the third-hardest on the Tour. The toughest hole on the course was the par-4, 14th, which played to an average of 4.398.

HOST HISTORY: The Scarlet Course was designed by Perry Maxwell and completed in 1938. Since 1941, the course has hosted 10 men's and five women's national collegiate championships as well as various USGA qualifiers. In 2005 and 2006, Ohio State graduate Jack Nicklaus oversaw a major restoration of the layout.

AMATEUR EFFORTS: Led by amateur Daniel Summerhays' victory in 2007, the top college players invited to play in this tournament each year have played well. Summerhays is still a member of the Nationwide Tour. Dustin Johnson, a PGA TOUR player who earlier this season won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, was the other amateur besides Summerhays to make the cut in 2007. He tied for 50th. A year ago, four amateurs made it to the weekend, led by Sihwan Kim's tie for sixth. Rickie Fowler tied for 40th, Rory Hie tied for 45th and Jamie Lovemark was 69th. Lovemark is playing this week as a professional at the Buick Open.

Weather forecast for the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational

THURSDAY, Rd. 1 FRIDAY, Rd. 2 SATURDAY, Rd. 3 SUNDAY, Rd. 4 Afternoon t-storms Temp: 82 high/69 low Partly sunny Temp: 79 high/63 low Sunny Temp: 84 high/69 low Isolated t-storms Temp: 79 high/63 low

DTN/Meteorlogix is the official weather provider of the PGA TOUR. For more information, click here

Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational snippets

CHARITY: Nationwide Children's Hospital's commitment to excellence has won it national recognition, including being named to the US News and World Report "America's Best Hospitals" list. In January 2007, Child magazine determined Childrens was the sixth best pediatric hospital in the country and number one in emergency care. For more information, click here. ONE MORE TRY: Michael Sim (pictured) and Kevin Johnson are both in the field this week. Because both players have two wins this year, either one can secure an immediate promotion to the PGA TOUR with a third win.