Nationwide Tour: Heading to Georgia, Rice plans to return

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KEVIN CHAPPELL ENTERS WINNER'S CIRCLE -- In his 16th start, Kevin Chappell of Fresno, Calif., earned his first Nationwide Tour victory on Sunday at the Fresh Express Classic. The former UCLA Bruin shot 31 on the front nine at TPC Stonebrae and made key birdies on two of the last four holes to claim a one-shot victory over Canada's David Hearn who grew up in Wayne Gretzky's hometown of Brantford, Ontario. With no status at the beginning of 2009, the 23-year-old Chappell has steadily climbed the Nationwide Tour ladder in the last 14 months by successfully handling a number of Monday qualifiers and earning top-25 finishes to get him into the next event. After finishing 2009 80th on the money list in nine starts, Chappell now finds himself No. 2 on the Nationwide Tour money list with $151,021. A winner of the 2008 Jack Nicklaus Award as college golf's top male player, Chappell captured medalist honors in that year's NCAA Championship, leading the Bruins to their first team title since 1988.

TOP FINISHES -- Fresh Express Classic runner-up David Hearn recorded his best Nationwide Tour finish since he won the 2004 Alberta Classic. Winner Kevin Chappell was joined by three other former college players of the year inside the top 10 -- Chris Kirk of Georgia (T5), Jamie Lovemark of USC (T5) and Kyle Stanley of Clemson (T9).

GEORGIA BOUND FOR TWO WEEKS -- The Nationwide Tour travels across the country to Georgia for back-to-back events in the Peach State, Nos. 7 and 8 of the year. The 4th South Georgia Classic presented by First State Bank and Trust Company will be played at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta, Ga. From Valdosta, it's north to Athens and the Stadion Athens Classic at UGA with local company, Stadion Management, as new title sponsor. A host of players with Georgia ties are in the South Georgia Classic field -- Paul Claxton, Chris Kirk, Kevin Kisner, and Brendon Todd (all U. of Georgia), Michael Clark II (Georgia Tech), Ty Harris (Georgia State), Josh Broadaway (Albany), Scott Brown (Augusta), John Kimbell (Atlanta), Jay McLuen (Smarr) and Michael Sims (St. Simons Island).

JERRY RICE ACCEPTS RETURN INVITE TO STONEBRAE AND MAY 2010 BMW INVITE -- On Sunday, Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice gladly accepted an invitation from the Fresh Express Classic at TPC Stonebrae to once again serve as tournament host and compete in the Nationwide Tour event in 2011. The scratch golfer's first venture inside the ropes was in his words "unbelievable". Rice was very well-received by his fellow players and the fans and created a significant media buzz. "My main goal has been to help the tournament be successful and I am happy we have been able to do that," he said. "I loved working with the Nationwide Tour, the players and all the people at Stonebrae. I can't wait to do it again." After shooting a nervous 83 in the first round, Rice settled down on Friday to post a 76.

Officials of the Nationwide Tour's popular BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation announced on Monday that Rice would compete as a professional in the Greenville, S.C.-based tournament next month (May 13-16). "After years of playing as an amateur, I was excited to launch my professional career at the Fresh Express Classic," Rice said. "I look forward to playing on the East Coast at the BMW Charity Pro-Am." The 20-year NFL veteran is the all-time leader in virtually every major statistical category for wide receivers, was selected to the Pro Bowl 13 times and won three Super Bowl rings playing for the San Francisco 49ers. He will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 7th. Rice joins 28 other celebrities in the event which features a pro-am format played over three courses.

HALL OF FAME COMPANY -- Jerry Rice is one of three hall of fame athletes with strong ties to Nationwide Tour events in 2010. In back-to-back weeks in July, Canada's Wayne Gretzky (Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic) and former Cincinnati Bengal great Anthony Munoz (Chiquita Classic) will welcome the Nationwide Tour to Ontario and Cincinnati, respectively. There are several other prominent sports figures who have affiliations with Tour events this year -- Camilo Villegas/Pacific Rubiales Bogotá Open, Chip Beck/Stadion Athens Classic at UGA, Gary Williams/Melwood Prince George's County Open and Jim Furyk/Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open. In addition, Arnold Palmer is the Honorary Chairman of the new Mylan Classic near Pittsburgh.

BOBBY GATES RETAINS TOP SPOT ON MONEY LIST -- Michael Hill New Zealand Open winner Bobby Gates remains atop the Nationwide Tour money list through six events, with Fresh Express Classic winner Kevin Chappell closing the gap. Gates, a Gainesville, Fla. native who graduated from Texas A&M University in 2008, has earnings of $161,960. Chappell's Sunday winner's check for $108,000 upped his earnings to $151,021. Moonah Classic winner Jim Herman is 3rd with $126,000.

JIM FURYK RACKS UP WIN NO. 271 -- With his second win of 2010 in Hilton Head on Sunday, Jim Furyk increased the total number of Nationwide Tour alumni titles on the PGA TOUR to 271. It was the 11th alumni TOUR win of the year. The Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. resident competed in 25 Nationwide Tour events in 1993, winning once and finishing 26th on the money list.

MICHAEL CLARK II / HOT NINE -- Michael Clark II came within one shot of tying the Nationwide Tour's all-time record for "Low 9" last Friday at TPC Stonebrae. The former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket recorded five birdies and an eagle en route to a 7-under-par 28 on the back nine. Two players, Notah Begay III and Doug Dunakey, shot 27 in 1998.

JAMES HAHN / BIRDIES FOR CHARITY -- Nationwide Tour rookie James Hahn has pledged to pay $5 for every birdie he makes for the remainder of the season to Children's Hospital and Research Center of Oakland. A native of Seoul, South Korea, Hahn resides in Alameda, Calif. and is a 2003 graduate of the University of California-Berkeley. He missed his first cut last week in the Fresh Express Classic at the nearby TPC Stonebrae in Hayward after going five for five to start the 2010 campaign. Hahn is averaging 4.05 birdies per round. He made six birdies (66-76-142) at TPC Stonebrae where the program was launched. With the weekend off, Hahn worked as an on-course analyst for Golf Channel. Children's Hospital and Research Center of Oakland is one the top-12 pediatric centers in the U.S. "I want every family to be able to take their child to a hospital like this one if they ever need help."

SPOTTED IN THE CROWD -- World Golf Hall of Fame member and LPGA star Juli Inkster was spotted in Saturday's gallery at TPC Stonebrae. The resident of nearby Los Altos, Calif., was on hand to follow her good friend and fellow Los Altos resident Jeff Brehaut. Brehaut made the cut and finished 60th.

BIRTHDAY BOYS -- Celebrating a birthday this week in Valdosta is Sweden's Jonas Blixt who went to school at nearby Florida State University (April 24th / turns 26).

NEXT WEEK -- The Nationwide Tour moves up the road to Athens, Ga. for the Stadion Athens Classic at UGA (April 29 - May 2). Stadion is the event's new title sponsor and the University of Georgia Golf Course the new host venue.