The 2008 Nationwide Tour Graduating Class

by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 10, 2008 1:42 PM EST Comment 5 comments

Here they are - and note how much money it took to get into the top 25. It's staggering compared to just a few years ago.

1. Matt Bettencourt, $447,863 (2 wins) – Greenville, S.C.
2. Brendon de Jonge, $437,035 (1) – Charlotte, N.C. (native of Zimbabwe)
3. Jeff Klauk, $407,418 (1) – St. Augustine, Fla.
4. Jarrod Lyle, $382,738 (2) – Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
5. Bill Lunde, $341,446 (1) – Las Vegas, Nev.
6. Colt Knost, $329,509 (2) – Dallas, Texas
7. Darron Stiles, $324,627 (1) – Pinehurst, N.C.
8. Greg Chalmers, $321,930 (1) – Colleyville, Texas (native of Australia)
9. Scott Piercy, $320,187 (2) – Las Vegas, Nev.
10. Greg Owen, $309,805 – Windermere, FL (native of England)
11. Peter Tomasulo, $296,704 – Long Beach, Calif.
12. Rick Price, $284,922 (1) – Jupiter, Fla.
13. Kris Blanks, $280,588 (1) – Bluffton, S.C.
14. David Mathis, $276,412 (1) – Raleigh, N.C.
15. Casey Wittenberg, $271,919 – Memphis, Tenn.
16. D.A. Points, $266,696 (1) – Ocoee, Fla.
17. Arjun Atwal, $259,186 (1) – Windermere, Fla. (native of India)
18. Aron Price, $249,144 (1) – Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (native of Australia)
T19. Marc Leishman, $244,224 (1) – Warrnambool, Australia
T19. Brendon Todd, $244,224 (1) – Atlanta, Ga.
21. Scott Gutschewski, $238,215 (1) – Prosper, Texas
22. Spencer Levin, $236,185 – Elk Grove, Calif.
23. Bryce Molder, $234,651 – Scottsdale, Ariz.
24. Matt Weibring, $228,155 – Dallas, Texas
25. Ricky Barnes, $218,902 – Scottsdale, Ariz.

A lot of well recognized names (or at least surnames) on this list. In a lot of ways, this Tour is beginning to resemble a perfect mix of unknowns and redemption stories. It's all the more reason to get these guys involved as soon as possible on the PGA Tour, following their graduation.

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a name to watch - and one gallery filler - and one coin toss

There aren’t a whole lot of young up-and-comers on this list – mostly a bunch of pogo stick guys bouncing from one tour to the other from year to year. Better than the Nationwide – but not good enough to stay on the PGA Tour.

Watch out for Brendon Todd – 3 months after finishing as a UGA Bulldog – he had wins on two mini-tours. He had no status on the Nationwide Tour at the start of this year. His first Nationwide Tour start came in April in Athens, GA (home of the Dawgs) where he was in contention until a final round 80 blew him out of a top 5 finish and a possible win. He finished with 7 top 10’s including a win, out of 14 cuts made. (23 starts)

Spencer Levin looked like he was going to be the next big thing to hit the PGA Tour a few years ago – an Anthony Kim rising star – but he stalled out for some reason. Maybe he’s getting things back together after a good year on the Nationwide Tour.

Remember Ricky Barnes ? Coverboy looks – studly muscular build – big hitter – and a few good results here and there…but he slipped into “blond” mode and ended up doing more modelling on the weekends than golfing – mostly in Europe where he picked up his endorsements. If nothing else – his galleries will fill up with some very attractive sun dresses !!

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Nov 10, 2008 2:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ricky hits the ball a mile

I saw him at his peak at the Open at Olympia Fields. Good God, he can hit the ball. I’m very curious to see if Colt Knost can keep playing with a chip on his shoulder about turning pro and not taking advantage of major championship invites.

by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 10, 2008 2:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No chip

I sure hope that wasn’t his peak. He’s going to have to play better than that to stick on the PGA Tour.

We interviewed Colt Knost in Athens this year. He’s not a big fan of this “chip on his shoulder” reputation he has gotten in the media – and he doesn’t know where it came from.

He turned pro because he didn’t grow up with a ton of money in the family that would let him take most of a year off just to play the Masters and the Open. He wanted to get started building his game for the PGA Tour. There was no “chip on his shoulder” – it was a well thought out decision, and it’s paying off. His attitude was that he had a lot of work to do to play with the big boys, but he had the confidence that when he got to the PGA Tour, he would earn his way to Augusta and the US Open.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Nov 10, 2008 3:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs