Notes: Nationwide alums one away from 300 TOUR wins

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NEXT STOP, 300 The next PGA TOUR win by a Nationwide Tour alumnus will be No. 300. Gary Woodland captured the 299th win on Sunday at the Transitions Championship. Alumni victories have increased significantly in recent years, with half of the total having come since July 2004. The first win came in 1991. In 2011, alumni have captured 11 of the first 13 TOUR titles.

STRONG PRESENCE The Nationwide Tour was well represented again at the Transitions Championship. Woodland led the way with his victory. He was one of 13 alumni who finished among the top 14 in Tampa. Coming off shoulder surgery in 2009, the 2007 U. of Kansas graduate competed in 14 Nationwide Tour events last year as well as eight on the PGA TOUR. Woodland is the second 2011 PGA TOUR winner who played extensively on the Nationwide Tour last year (Jhonattan Vegas/Bob Hope Classic).

TOUR HEADS TO LOUISIANA FOR 20TH YEAR The Nationwide Tour returns to Lafayette, Louisiana and Le Triomphe Country Club for the 20th year in a row this week and opens its 2011 domestic season. The Chitimacha Louisiana Open is the fifth oldest event on Tour and Le Triomphe the third longest-running host site. Last year, Argentina's Fabian Gomez won by a tournament record six shots and went on to earn his 2011 PGA TOUR card.

2010 GRADS RETURN With the PGA TOUR's Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard limited to 120 players, five 2010 graduates will be spending the week on the familiar turf of the Nationwide Tour. Scheduled to be at Le Triomphe are Kevin Chappell (9th on final money list), Kevin Kisner (11th), Jim Herman (19th), Joe Affrunti (22nd) and Michael Putnam (24th). All of them, with the exception of Affrunti, won Nationwide Tour events in 2010.

EARNING THEIR WAY Four South American players finished in the top-25 in the Tour's most recent event -- the Pacific Rubiales Bogotá Open and thus, are eligible to play in Louisiana -- Julian Eutulain of Argentina (T3), and three Colombians, David Vanegas (T3), Manuel Villegas (T19) and Andres Echavarria (T19), a University of Florida senior. One other non-member, Andrew Parr (T19) of Canada, also qualified for the field. All five are committed to play.

SMOLTZ TO PLAY NATIONWIDE TOUR EVENT The South Georgia Classic presented by First State Bank and Trust Co. announced last week that former Major League Baseball star John Smoltz has accepted a sponsor's exemption and will compete in the April 28 -- May 1 event in Valdosta, Ga. "I'm not afraid to fail but failure is right there," the 22-year veteran said. "I know it's not easy. I just want to see what it's like. I want to know what my body feels like. I want to know if that tension creeps up." Smoltz was an All-Star selection eight times and won the 1996 Cy Young Award as the best pitcher in the National League.

SAGE VALLEY JUNIOR EVENT WINNER HEADED TO MELWOOD The Melwood Prince George's County (Md.) Open presented by Under Armour will have a youthful appeal this year. The tournament has announced that the winner of The Junior Invitational at Sage Valley Golf Club (Aiken, S.C., April 18-22) will receive a sponsor's exemption to compete in the June 2-5 Nationwide Tour event at the University of Maryland Golf Course. The Invitational will feature 54 players from 18 countries and 20 states in America. Sage Valley GC is a highly-acclaimed Tom Fazio layout that opened for play in 2001 and features a national membership.

A ROUND WITH A SUPER BOWL WINNING COACH One of the featured auction items at Tuesday night's Chitimacha Louisiana Open social function is a round of golf for four with Sean Payton, head coach of the Super Bowl XLIV champion New Orleans Saints. Serious bidders may call the tournament office (337-593-8000) for more details.

TV ADJUSTMENTS Two adjustments have been made to the previously released 2011 Nationwide Tour television schedule. Golf Channel will now televise the Cox Classic presented by Lexus of Omaha (Aug. 4-7). Next month's South Georgia Classic presented by First State and Trust Co. will not be televised.

BIRTHDAY BOYS Celebrating birthdays in Valdosta this week are: Miguel Angel Carballo (Bahia Blanca, Argentina) turns 32 on the 22nd and Scott Gardiner (Liverpool, NSW, Australia/Farmington, Ark.) 35 the same day.

NEXT UP The next Nationwide Tour event is the Fresh Express Classic at TPC Stonebrae in the San Francisco Bay area April 14-17. Pro Football Hall of Fame member Jerry Rice will once again be the tournament host and compete as a professional.