The dream begins for Nationwide Aussies
BY iseekgolf.com | Nationwide Tour | 2008 Movistar Panama Championship | Preview | 23 Jan 2008
Thirteen of the twenty four strong Australasian contingent begin their dream to make it to the US PGA Tour when the 2008 Nationwide Tour kicks off this week at the Panama Movistar Championship in Panama.
The Down Under boys are part of over 200 players who will compete in the season-long quest to secure one of 25 PGA TOUR cards for 2009 that will be awarded in early November to the Nationwide Tour’s leading money winners at the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship.
The Nationwide Tour has created many success stories for Australasian golfers since its inception in 1990 with players including Stuart Appleby, Aaron Baddeley, Nathan Green, Mark Hensby and Rod Pampling all successfully graduating from the Nationwide Tour to the US Tour.
Just last year Australian Nick Flanagan became the first international player in the 18-year history of the Nationwide Tour to earn the Player of the Year Award as well as the first player from outside the United States to claim a three-win promotion to the US PGA Tour. He is joined by fellow 2007 Nationwide Tour graduates Jason Day and Matthew Jones on the US Tour this year.
In 2008 a record has already been set for the Australasians with 24 players listed as members, (five more than 2007) – the biggest number yet.
“Once again we have a huge contingent on the Nationwide Tour which goes hand in hand with the growth of golfing talent in this country”, said Ben Sellenger, Commissioner of the PGA Tour of Australasia.
“This year we have a great combination of exciting young players mixed with those who have had a taste of the big time and are keen to get back on the PGA Tour. History shows we have a strong presence on the Nationwide Tour and with two events here our players are given further opportunities to access the pathway to the Nationwide and ultimately the PGA Tour.”
It won’t be long before Australasian fans see the boys in action as two of the first four Nationwide Tour events are co-sanctioned in Australia and New Zealand. After playing in Panama and Mexico, the Nationwide Tour heads to Australasia for the HSBC NZ PGA Championship at Clearwater Resort in Christchurch from February 14-17, followed a week later with the inaugural Moonah Classic at Moonah Links on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria from February 21-24.
The 24 strong Australasian contingent who are members of the Nationwide Tour in 2008 are:
Andrew Bonhomme (Qld)
Andrew Buckle (Qld)
Aron Price (NSW)
Brad Hughes (Vic)
Brad Iles (NZL)
Brad Lamb (Vic)
Brendan Jones (ACT)
Cameron Percy (Vic)
David McKenzie (Vic)
Euan Walters (Vic)
Gavin Coles (NSW)
Grant Waite (NZL)
Greg Chalmers (WA)
Jarrod Lyle (Vic)
Kim Felton (WA)
Marc Leishman (Vic)
Paul Gow (NSW)
Paul Sheehan (NSW)
Peter O’Malley (NSW)
Scott Gardiner (NSW)
Steve Allan (Vic)
Steven Bowditch (Qld)
Wade Ormsby (SA)
Won Joon Lee (NSW)
Twenty-five PGA TOUR cards and a record purse approaching US$19 million will be at stake over the course of 30 events in 2008.
Source – PGA Tour
