Notes: Daly, Sadlowski face off at Albertsons Boise Open

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Matt Every is currently ranked No. 25 on the Nationwide Tour money list.
Sep. 13, 2011
By Nationwide Tour staff

DASH TO THE FINISH LINE -- After sharing an off week with the PGA TOUR, the Nationwide Tour heads west to Idaho to begin the season's final run of seven events that will ultimately decide who gets "The 25" PGA TOUR cards for 2012 and who doesn't. September and October are clearly the months when things get particularly interesting on the Nationwide Tour. Matt Every occupies the bubble seat of No. 25 on the money list. He "enjoys" a $1,150 lead over Tommy Biershenk.

"BATTLE OF THE BIG GUNS" -- The Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft got off to a big start on Monday with the "Battle of the Big Guns" shoot out, featuring John Daly and RE/MAX World Long Drive champion Jamie Sadlowski. The big bombers faced off in a head-to-head competition at host Hillcrest CC. Both Daly and Sadlowski will compete in the tournament itself as sponsor exemptions. The Canadian-born Sadlowski carries a +1.1 handicap and has club head speed measured at 148 mph (Tiger Woods is 120) and ball speed of 213 mph (Woods averages 175).

PGA TOUR IMPACT -- With 55 players trimmed from the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup after its first two events, a number of regulars from the Nationwide Tour last year will be in Boise this week -- 2010 winners D.J. Brigman, Bobby Gates, Jim Herman and David Mathis, plus William McGirt, David Hearn and 2010 runner-up Daniel Summerhays. The field features every one of the current top 25, 58 of the top 60 and 90 of the top 100. Collectively, the field has 20 PGA TOUR wins, and 39 total wins, the most of any tournament this year, along with the BMW Charity Pro-Am, making it one of the strongest of the year.

HARRIS ENGLISH TURNS PRO, JOINS NATIONWIDE TOUR -- On Tuesday, recent University of Georgia graduate Harris English announced he has turned pro and accepted Nationwide Tour membership that was available to him upon winning the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational as an amateur in July. English, fresh off last weekend's Walker Cup, will make his professional debut at the Soboba Classic next week. The 22-year-old has also entered Tour events in Midland, Texas, Chattanooga, Tenn. and Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. as he attempts to earn a PGA TOUR card. Read more here.

CHARITABLE SUCCESS STORY -- The Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft will be played for the 22nd time this year. All have been held at Hillcrest Country Club. It is one of only four events that have been on the Nationwide Tour schedule since the Tour's inception in 1990. All 22 events have been produced by Jeff Sanders Promotions of Beaverton, Ore. In 2012, the Albertsons Boise Open will surpass the $12 million mark in charitable donations, making it the Nationwide Tour leader in charitable giving.

CHARITIES WIN IN LOUISIANA, TOO -- Last Wednesday, the Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented over $161,000 in checks to 58 local and regional charities and youth groups, which was an increase of 13% over 2010. The event, which was first played in 1992, has contributed nearly $1.7 million in the last seven years and nearly $4 million in its two-decade history.

FOLTZ ON LEE -- Having been around the Nationwide as a player and Golf Channel announcer for every one of the its 22 years, Jerry Foltz knows a thing or two about the Nationwide Tour. Foltz recently shared his thoughts on 21-year-old Danny Lee with John Dell for a PGATOUR.COM feature. "He's got some star qualities although he's a shy kid," Foltz said. "He's certainly one of the most talented players on the Nationwide Tour and without question he'll be successful." In the same piece, Lee, who is the Tour's third youngest member, indicated he mixed play on the European Tour with the Nationwide Tour early in the year to try and improve his Official World Golf Ranking but it didn't work out. "Now I'm committed to the Nationwide Tour and my goal is to get inside the top 25 and get on the PGA TOUR next year." At No. 11 on the money list, Lee is in good position to do just that. Lee's stats are particularly impressive -- 2nd in Birdie Average, 4th in Scoring Average and All-Around Ranking, and T7 in Driving Distance.

AARON GOLDBERG / GIVING BACK -- Rookie Aaron Goldberg leaves his mark in every Nationwide Tour city he visits. Each week, the 26-year-old from Carlsbad, Calif. chooses a local charity to spotlight and raise funds for by pledging $5 for every birdie he makes. He multiplies the total donation by getting friends and acquaintances to pledge right along with him. "It reminds me there's more to life than just playing golf," Goldberg said. "We're all just lucky to be playing golf for a living and lucky to be healthy." A conditional player at the start of the season, Goldberg has made 10 starts and earned $65,325 (64th). He has posted 142 birdies on the year.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT / SCOTT BROWN -- Former Division II Jack Nicklaus Award winner (college player of the year / 2006) Scott Brown is currently ranked 12th on the Nationwide Tour money list. Though a non-winner, the University of South Carolina -- Aiken product has one runner-up and three thirds, which accounts for 84% of his 2011 earnings. It's been a roller-coasting year for the 28-year-old, particularly over the last 11 weeks. In sequence, Brown has finished T2, T3, MC, MC, T19, T18, MC, MC, MC, MC and T3.

"GETAWAY" PROMOTION ENTERS 6th WEEK -- Golf Channel's "Nationwide Tour Hawaii Getaway" promotion enters its sixth week. One person will win a trip for two to the 2012 Sony Open in Hawaii where the Nationwide Tour class of 2011 will make its 2012 PGA TOUR debut. Fans may enter online by answering player trivia questions at www.golfchannel.com/the25trivia. Last week's featured player was Pacific Rubiales Bogotá Open winner Brenden Pappas.

BIRTHDAY BOYS -- Celebrating birthdays this week are Will Claxton (14th / turns 30) and Casey Crain (18th / 33).

NEXT WEEK -- The Tour is in southern California for the Soboba Golf Classic in San Jacinto (Sept. 22-25) where Steven Bowditch won the title last year.

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