Insider: Lovemark, Chappell, Kirk proving their worth
By John Dell, Nationwide Tour Insider
The young guns are firing all their bullets this year on the Nationwide Tour.
And one of the leading marksmen is Jamie Lovemark, 22, who is coming off his first victory and looking for more. The former Southern Cal standout certainly has the talent to keep up his outstanding play.
Chris Kirk (Georgia) leads the money list with Lovemark right behind while Kevin Chappell (UCLA) is third as the Tour settles in Ontario, Canada this week for the Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic. All three are under the age of 26 and each has a victory this season.
All but three of the top 50 players on the money list are playing this week in the tournament that offers one of the richest purses on Tour ($800,000 with $144,000 going to the winner.)
Lovemark jumped from No. 10 on the money list to second with his win at the Mexico Open Bicentenary late last month, essentially guaranteeing he'll play on the PGA TOUR next season. But there are still plenty of tournaments on the Nationwide Tour this season for him, or any of the other young guns, to add to their already impressive seasons.
"I haven't won since 2007 so I can't tell you how special it is for me to win out here," Lovemark said after beating B.J. Staten by making a short eagle putt on the first playoff hole. "I've knocked on the door a few times this year and to seal the deal feels so good."
Lovemark is just one of the young stars on the Nationwide Tour who enjoyed success in college, then had to pay some dues as a pro before cashing in.
In 2007 Lovemark won the NCAA championship as a freshman at Southern Cal. He was just the eighth freshman to accomplish that feat.
Lovemark also nearly won on the PGA TOUR last October when he shot 65-64 on the weekend to get into a three-man playoff with Rickie Fowler and Troy Matteson at the Frys.com Open. Matteson eventually won the tournament.
Lovemark said the experience of almost winning the Frys.com Open helped in his development.
"Obviously it would have been nice to win the Frys.com Open, but I'm not sure I'd be the player I am today," he said. "Losing that playoff motivated me to get better."
Kirk is coming off his first victory at the Fort Smith Classic and the former Georgia star is atop the money list with $262,382. This is his third full season on Tour, but he's looking at a jump to the PGA TOUR in 2011.
Kirk made his initial win a memorable one, too, by firing a 64 on the final day to edge Kyle Thompson by one shot.
"This takes care of a lot of goals in one round," he said after the victory. "My first win on Tour and then to be able to secure my PGA TOUR card for next year."
The victory also took the sting out of Kirk's playoff loss at the Moonah Classic in Australia. He held a two-shot lead with three holes to go in regulation, but wound up losing to Jim Herman in extra holes.
Kirk hasn't played since his breakout win but should have a load of confidence heading into this week's tournament.
.Rounding out the threesome of young guns is Chappell, who won the Fresh Express Classic at TPC Stonebrae in April. After that victory, though, Chappell struggled a bit and missed two cuts before tying for second at the BMW Charity Pro-Am. He tied for ninth in his last start in Mexico.
Chappell was also a big success in college where he won the Ben Hogan Award that combines accomplishments in college and amateur play.
Last year's Ben Hogan Award winner, Kyle Stanley of Clemson, is also inside the top 25 on the money list. The big-hitting Stanley, who is just 22, has played in 12 tournaments and made nine cuts with four top-10 finishes to rank 23rd on the money list.
John Dell has covered golf for the Winston-Salem Journal in North Carolina for the last 16 years. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.
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