Fascinating last day at Nationwide Tour Championship

BY Bruce Young | Nationwide Tour | 2004 Nationwide Tour Championship | Round Three | 31 Oct 2004

With just one round to go at the Nationwide Tour Championship and so much at stake for the few who are vying for one of the last few places inside the top twenty who will advance to the USPGA Tour in 2005, then Sunday in Prattville Alabama promises much. There are just so many permutations but here is a look at what might happen (all care no responsibility).

Amongst the Australians Brendan Jones, Paul Gow, Bradley Hughes and Euan Walters are guaranteed of their USPGA Tour cards next season amongst the top fifteen or so who can rest easy, irrespective of what happens on Sunday. Those below the 15th placed player however will be desperate to play well on Sunday or will find themselves parked in front of the leaderboard late on Sunday afternoon as the drama unfolds.

Three years ago New Zealander, Michael Long, agonised as he awaited the finish of the final few on Sunday until he eventually secured the last of the then fifteen cards. The way things are shaping here it might just be that he has another similar wait. Long is currently in 17th place on the money list but he is in 47th place in the tournament and is not likely to earn more than $3000 unless he goes low tomorrow. The problem for Long and others in his situation is that there are several players close to them on the money list, who are very much in contention in this event with one round to go and who will play a role in determining their future.

The tournament leader Nick Watney is currently 19th on the money list and appears to need only a top 12 finish here to secure things for next year.

D.J. Trahan is currently in a share of 4th place this week with one round to go, but in 26th place on the money list, he needs a top four or better.

Darren Stiles has a share of 10th here but in 16th place on the money list he needs only a top twenty here it would seem.

Brett Wetterich also shares 4th place in the tournament and in 23rd place on the money list, he needs what appears to be only a top ten to be a very happy man in 24 hours.

Kyle Thomson in 25th place on the money list, is only three shots from the lead here in 8th place and a top five tomorrow should get the job done for him.

Chris Tidland is in 21st place on the money list but in 19th place here, he will need a top 12 tomorrow to collect his card.

Australian Nathan Green is also in 4th place, only two behind Watney, but in 47th place on the money list he needs to win here to get his card, or finish in the top three to avoid stage two of the Tour School.

Mattie Goggin starts the final day, four behind the lead in 9th place, but he can still make it with a top three here.

Gavin Coles, currently 18th on the money list, has slipped badly in rounds two and three after his brilliant opening round of 66 and now finds himself in 32nd place in the tournament. It would seem that Coles will need to improve ten places tomorrow to be assured of a comfort zone.

David McKenzie has blown what chance he had with such a poor start to this tournament that he will not retain his current 20th position. Sunday will be a tough day of what might have been for McKenzie. After such a brilliant run in the middle of the season, his chance has now gone, but he will advance to the final stage of the Tour School to see if he can do it that way.

These are but a few of them many stories that make the final chapter in the 2004 Nationwide Tour season such a gripping story.