Nationwide debuts new event at Stonebrae
BY Bruce Young | Nationwide Tour | 2009 Stonebrae Classic | Preview | 01 Apr 2009
The Nationwide Tour has moved west to California for this week’s inaugural US$600,000 Stonebrae Classic at the David McLay Kidd designed TPC San Francisco Bay at Stonebrae in Hayward on the eastern side of San Francisco Bay.
The field brings together three of the five winners this season, Moonah Classic winner, Alistair Presnell and New Zealand PGA Champion, Steve Alker the notable absentees. That leaves Vance Veazey (Panama Open), Alex Prugh (New Zealand Open) and last week’s Louisiana Open winner, Bubba Dickerson as recent winners in the field but it might be the in-form Michael Sim who gets the nod as favourite.
Sim missed the cut at the New Zealand Open but that was on a golf course which he has openly stated does not fit his eye and perhaps his earlier season form is a better guide to his chances this week. He was 7th at the Johnnie Walker Classic after leading at various stages, 3rd at the Moonah Classic and 4th at the New Zealand PGA and is in 7th position on the money list.
Alex Prugh attended a family wedding last week and did not play in Louisiana but is back looking to follow up his maiden Nationwide Tour in New Zealand three weeks ago.
Henrik Bjornstad played very solidly on the down-under swing and despite a missed cut last week in Louisiana could well bounce back.
The Australasian line-up is long. Sim, Coles, the improving Scott Gardiner, Won Joon Lee, Andrew Buckle, Nick Flanagan, David McKenzie, Paul Gow, Phil Tataurangi, Steve Bowditch and Kim Felton all taking their chance.
