Notes: Alums set records; Tour in Texas for 20th year

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CONGRATULATIONS -- Needless to say, Sunday was the biggest day of Nationwide Tour alumnus Bill Haas' career when he claimed both the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and the FedExCup, not to mention $11.44 million. Congratulations from the Nationwide Tour, Bill! The TOUR Championship title was the 318th by a Nationwide Tour alumnus and the 30th in 41 official events this season on the PGA TOUR. Haas and fellow alum Jim Furyk have won back-to-back FedExCup titles. The 2004 Jack Nicklaus Award winner (college player of the year) out of Wake Forest University competed full time on the Nationwide Tour in 2005, before heading to the PGA TOUR in 2006.

LINED UP FOR A PROMOTION -- With his playoff win on Sunday in the Soboba Golf Classic, Ted Potter, Jr. became the third two-time winner of 2011, joining J.J. Killeen and Mathew Goggin. A third win would earn a battlefield promotion to the PGA TOUR. While there may not be many PGA TOUR events remaining to enter this year, the incentive to capture a third win is still high as any three-time winner will be fully exempt on the PGA TOUR next year. Perseverance could be Potter's middle name. He's the same guy who at the age of 20 missed the cut in all 24 Nationwide Tour events he entered in 2004. In the seven years since, Potter has pursued his PGA TOUR dream by playing various mini-tours. He found his current form on the Nationwide Tour this year and it is about to send him to the PGA TOUR.

NATIONWIDE TOUR CELEBRATES 20th YEAR IN WEST TEXAS -- The Nationwide Tour returns to the Midland/Odessa area for the 20th straight year. The roster of past champions includes PGA TOUR winners Charley Hoffman (2004), Brandt Snedeker (2006) Garrett Willis (2009) and area native Chad Campbell (2001). Midland Country Club has been the host venue since 2002. The 1992-2001 events were held at the Club at Mission Dorado in nearby Odessa. Tournament director Scotty Niemann played in the first event in 1992, the Permian Basin Open. Niemann opened with a 69 and was in 8th place. A 79 on Friday dashed his hopes of sharing some weekend glory with family and friends. He missed the cut by three shots. Niemann has served as tournament director of the WNB Golf Classic since 2003.

"25" ACTION -- Soboba Golf Classic playoff runner-up Miguel Angel Carballo of Argentina made the biggest move of the week into "The 25". Carballo began the week at No. 60 and finished 23rd. Former University of Florida All-American Matt Every benefited significantly from his T6 finish, moving from 29th to 20th. South African Brenden Pappas dropped three spots and is this week's "bubble boy" at No. 25. Only $575 separates Pappas and No. 26 Garth Mulroy. Last week's bubble boy, Brian Smock of California, dropped three to No. 28. Nashville's Luke List got into the fray with his T6 performance, jumping from 42nd to 27th.

DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE TOP 60 -- The goal of every player on the Nationwide Tour is to finish among "The 25" leading money winners, which guarantees a PGA TOUR card for next year. But you can't get there if you're not in the top 60. Only the top-60 money winners are eligible for the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island in Charleston, S.C. (Oct. 27-30). The field of 60 will be finalized in four weeks at the conclusion of the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open presented by Planters at TPC Sawgrass. Once a player secures his spot for Daniel Island, the possibility exists that he can play his way into "The 25", even the 60th player on the money list.

TALE OF TWO COUNTRIES -- Recent Albertsons Boise Open winner Jason Kokrak was born in Canada. While visiting her native country, Jason's mom gave birth to Jason in North Bay, Ontario. Within the week, mother and son returned home to Ohio, thinking Jason held dual citizenship in Canada and the U.S. It wasn't until the age of 14 that the Kokraks discovered he was not a U.S. citizen when he was traveling to a junior tournament in Ireland. After some challenges, young Jason returned to Ohio and finalized the requirements to receive his U.S. citizenship.

GORE BACK IN ACTION -- After a three-month absence, Jason Gore returned to action the last two weeks at the Albertsons Boise Open and the Soboba Golf Classic after a three-month absence. It was a good news, bad news return. The good news was the popular Californian finished T33 his first week back in Boise. The bad news is he was forced to withdraw at Soboba on Friday with a shoulder problem. On July 12th, Gore underwent a procedure to repair bone spurs on his shoulder.

BRADLEY SETS ALUMNI EARNINGS MARK -- With $3,758,600 (13th) in earnings his year, Keegan Bradley set a new mark for most money won by a Nationwide Tour alumnus in his rookie year on the PGA TOUR. He replaced Brandt Snedeker in the record book. Snedeker earned $2,836,643 in his rookie season of 2007.

LIMITED OVERTIME -- Through 21 of this year's 26 scheduled tournaments, there have been just two playoffs (BMW Charity Pro-Am and Soboba Golf Classic). The record for fewest playoffs in a single season on the Nationwide Tour is two, set in 1997.

QUALITY DEBUTS -- Former University of Georgia standouts Russell Henley and Harris English made their professional debuts at the Soboba Golf Classic last week. Henley finished T31, while English finished T49. The pair captured Nationwide Tour titles earlier this year while still amateurs.

CHARITY CLARIFICATION -- Albertsons Boise Open tournament officials announced another huge charity donation from this year's tournament -- $1,076,000, which included $725,000 via TICKETS Fore CHARITY?. Both figures surpassed last year's totals. Note: Last week's "Storylines" indicated the total donation was $1.8 million, which is not the case.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT -- In his last seven starts, Soboba Golf Classic winner Ted Potter, Jr. has clearly been up one week and down the next. Starting with the Nationwide Children's Hospital in July, Potter's finishes have been T6, MC, T3, MC, T3, MC, Win.

DID YOU KNOW? -- San Diego native Jamie Lovemark was the 2011 leading money winner on the Nationwide Tour. Another San Diego native, J.J. Killeen, has the lead this year ($42,102 over Mathew Goggin) with five events remaining. Killeen became the 14th Nationwide Tour player to surpass $400,000 in earnings ($407,554) with his T10 finish on Sunday in California.

"GETAWAY" PROMOTION ENTERS 8th WEEK -- Golf Channel's "Nationwide Tour Hawaii Getaway" promotion enters its eighth 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 Martin Flores.

BIRTHDAY BOYS -- Celebrating birthdays this week in Texas are Chris Tidland (28th / turns 39), Brent Delahoussaye (Oct. 2nd / 39) and Andrew Svoboda (Oct. 2nd / 32).

NEXT WEEK -- The Tour travels east to Chattanooga, Tenn. (Oct. 6-9) for the Children's Hospital Classic at Black Creek Mountain. Australia's Scott Gardiner returns to defend, something no player has successfully done in the 22-year history of the Nationwide Tour.