Notebook: College stars in the field at Ohio State

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Russell Knox held off Billy Hurley III for his first Nationwide Tour win.

KNOX A NATIONWIDE TOUR SUCCESS STORY Russell Knox' success this year demonstrates how quickly one's future can turn in a positive direction on the Nationwide Tour. The 26-year-old Scotsman started 2011 with no Nationwide Tour status. After Monday qualifying for the Fresh Express Classic at TPC Stonebrae in April and finishing T2 in the event, he earned Special Temporary Membership, granting him access to play the Tour. When Knox won the Chiquita Classic near Cincinnati on Sunday, he became fully exempt for the rest of 2011 and all of 2012 and moved from 27th to 5th on the money list, which puts him in excellent position to earn one of the 25 PGA TOUR cards that will be awarded at season's end to the Tour's leading money winners. Knox starred at Jacksonville (Fla.) University and has remained in the area, with his parents moving to nearby Ponte Vedra Beach a few years ago. "This is the best day of my life, 100 times over," Knox said of his Chiquita victory.

COLLEGE ALL-AMERICANS ADD UNIQUE COMPONENT AT OHIO STATE For the fifth year, the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational will feature the top stars of college golf. This year's contingent includes first-team All-Americans Peter Uihlein (Oklahoma State and reigning U.S. Amateur champ), John Peterson (LSU and NCAA individual champ), Luke Guthrie (Illinois), Patrick Reed (Augusta State), Bank Vongvanij (Florida), James White (Georgia Tech) and Andrew Yun (Stanford), second-team members Blayne Barber (Auburn), Harris English (Georgia), J.T. Griffin (Georgia Tech) and Chris Williams (Washington) and 2009 Walker Cup participant Brian Harman (Georgia) Uihlein and Reed played in the event last year and missed the cut. Previously announced participants Patrick Cantlay, Bud Cauley and Morgan Hoffmann have all gained entry into this week's RBC Canadian Open on the PGA TOUR. Uihlein travels to Columbus from England where he was one of two amateurs to make the cut (T48) in the British Open Championship. Former Ohio State All-American and Champions Tour member Joey Sindelar serves as honorary chairman for this week's event.

ELS REFLECTS ON NATIONWIDE TOUR It's been 20 years but Ernie Els looks back fondly on his stint on the Nationwide Tour in 1991. In eight starts, the "Big Easy" had one top-10 finish and earnings of just $6,143. His modest results contrast with what the experience meant to his career. Els recently told PGATOUR.COM: "The Nationwide Tour gives you a platform to play after your college or amateur career and it's played to a very high standard. I was like a lot of guys out there -- discovering the best way to get from one place to the other and how best to prepare for tournaments. I was learning the game under different conditions and courses. You travel to all different places and tend to bond more with other players. You get to see the other side of America. There are some great places out there which the PGA TOUR never goes to. I remember my time on the Nationwide Tour with a great deal of affection. It really is a great way to prepare your self as a player and a person for what lies ahead."

NAVY'S BILLY HURLEY MAKING PROGRESS Former Navy lieutenant Billy Hurley III, who served aboard a destroyer in the Persian Gulf, seems to be finding his sea legs on the golf course of late. His Sunday Chiquita Classic runner-up finish was his best in eight Nationwide Tour starts this year and comes after a T5 in his previous start in Wichita, Kan. The 29-year-old has improved from 173rd to 22nd on the money list in those last two starts. He missed five of his first six cuts.

KIRK IS FIFTH WINNER AMONG 2010 NATIONWIDE TOUR MEMBERS Former University of Georgia All-American Chris Kirk is back in the winner's circle, this time on the PGA TOUR for the first time. The TOUR rookie's win at the Viking Classic was No. 311 by Nationwide Tour alumni on TOUR. Last year, Kirk, 26, recorded two wins on the Nationwide Tour and finished second on the money list, missing the final two events due to a wrist injury. It was only two years ago that Kirk's game left him and he finished 178th on the Nationwide Tour, forcing him to regroup and fight his way back to prominence. Kirk is the fifth player off the 2010 Nationwide Tour to win on the PGA TOUR this year (Gary Woodland and Kirk's fellow rookies Jhonattan Vegas, Brendan Steele and Keegan Bradley).

VIKING CLASSIC NUMBERS 54 of the 73 players who made the cut at the Viking Classic are former Nationwide Tour members, including 18 of the top-26 finishers.

"COLLEGE SPIRIT DAY" AT THE SCARLET COURSE -- Saturday, July 23rd, will be "College Spirit Day" at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational. Players, caddies and wives are being encouraged to wear colors that represent their alma mater or favorite college. Judges will identify one player as "Best Dressed" based on his school colors. The tournament will make a $1,000 donation in that player's name to the general scholarship fund of the college of his choice. Fans will be invited to do the same, with the winner receiving an Apple iPad.

TOUR WIVES LOOKING TO "FILL THE CART WITH FUN" FOR HOSPITAL PATIENTS The Nationwide Tour Wives Association is partnering with tournament officials this week in a "Fill the Cart with Fun" project that will benefit patients at the Nationwide's Children's Hospital. The wives are encouraging spectators and volunteers to bring children's items such as pajamas, games, DVDs and arts and crafts items to the tournament and drop them off at the main admissions gate. The items will be delivered and distributed to the Hospital at the conclusion of the golf tournament. Cash donations and items shipped to the tournament office (by July 21st) will also be accepted.

"TFC" GOING STRONG AT MYLAN CLASSIC IN PITTSBURGH Ticket sales for the ANSYS TICKETS Fore CHARITY"! program at the Mylan Classic have already smashed last year's revenue of $234,000. One month prior to the Pittsburgh-area tournament more than $290,000 has been raised. Designed to create funding opportunities for non-profit organizations, TFC allows participating charities to sell tournament tickets and receive 100% of the proceeds.

HALFWAY POINT The Nationwide Tour reaches the mid-season mark after this week's Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational. It is the 13th of 26 events on the 2011 schedule.

DID YOU KNOW? Viking Classic winner Chris Kirk got his first professional start at the Viking Classic when the tournament offered him a sponsor exemption to play in September 2007.

BIRTHDAY BOYS Birthdays come in bunches this week on the Nationwide Tour with Brock MacKenzie (18th), Aaron Goldberg (19th), Tom Scherrer (20th), David Lingmerth (22nd), Brendan Todd (22nd), Craig Barlow (23rd), Doug Barron (24th), Danny Lee (24th) and Aaron Watkins (24th) celebrating. Lee, who turns 21 on Sunday, is the second youngest player on Tour (Richard T. Lee turns 21 in October).

NEXT WEEK The Tour moves west to the beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah area for the Utah Championship presented by Utah Sports Commission. Willow Creek Country Club in Sandy hosts the Nationwide Tour for the 13th straight year.