Power Rankings: Children's Hospital Classic

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Another week, another new winner on the Nationwide Tour.

On Sunday, rising star Danny Lee finally got that elusive victory this season by firing a 66 and then holding off another rising star, Harris English, by winning on the first playoff hole at the WNB Golf Classic in Midland, Texas.

Lee, a 21-year-old rookie on the Nationwide Tour, was the 19th different winner this season in the 22 tournaments played.

With just three more tournaments before the year-ending Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island players are running out of time to improve on the money list.

This week the Tour moves to the Children's Hospital Classic at Black Creek Mountain. Australia's Scott Gardiner is the defending champion and he hopes to accomplish a first in Tour history. Nobody has come back the next year to defend a title successfully in the 22-year history of the Tour.

Here are this week's Power Rankings.

Power Rankings: Children's Hospital Classic

Rank   Player Comment Harris ENGLISH He's already won once as an amateur on the Nationwide Tour this season and nearly won as a professional on Sunday. In Saturdays third round he shot a 62 and followed that up with a 69 to enter a playoff with Danny Lee. David LINGMERTH He's steadily improved the last three tournaments from a tie for 57th to a tie for 31st to a tie for seventh on Sunday. He's moved up to 69th on the money list thanks to four straight rounds in the 60s at the WNB Classic. Nicholas THOMPSON Coming off a tie for 21st on Sunday and has made three straight cuts. This is on the heels of him missing three straight cuts so he's hoping to continue his solid play. He needs to be in the top 60 on the money list so he can make the Tour Championship. David BRANSHAW It's been a tough season for Branshaw in 2011. In 2010 he was part of a three-man playoff here after shooting 19-under over four days. Maybe those good vibes will help him get back on track. He's had just three top 25s this season. B.J. STATEN Everything looked so good for Staten after three rounds last week. But shot 77 in the final round to wind up with a tie for 10th. He'll need some more good weeks to get into the top 25 mix, but he's come a long way after fighting through some injuries.

John Dell has covered golf for the Winston-Salem Journal in North Carolina for the last 18 years. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR. You can reach him at johndell@triad.rr.com.