The Nationwide Tour is commonly considered a proving ground for up-and-comers. But Thursday in the Prince George’s County Open, many players in the field will be former PGA Tour members trying to work their way back.
Of the top nine money winners on the Nationwide this year, all but one is a former PGA Tour player. The names are familiar, including No. 1 Matt Goggin, No. 2 Garth Mulroy and No. 6 Brett Wetterich, the lone Nationwide Tour member with a Ryder Cup appearance on his resume.
The only player in the top nine with no PGA Tour experience is No. 4 Ted Potter Jr., who got his big break last month when he won the South Georgia Classic. He was the first Monday qualifier to win on the tour in five years.
On Thursday afternoon, the left-hander will tee off at the University of Maryland Golf Course with a pair of blue bloods — Daniel Chopra, who is third on the money list and has won twice on the PGA Tour, and Nicholas Thompson, brother of emerging LPGA star Alexis Thompson.
| Prince George’s County Open |
| When » Thursday-Sunday |
| Where » University of Maryland Golf Course |
| TV » Golf Channel |
With his victory in Valdosta, Potter, 27, won $112,500, more than three times as much as he had claimed in any golf tournament. Potter was the Hooters Tour player of the year in 2006 and 2009. But in his first season on the Nationwide as a 20-year-old, he missed the cut in all 24 events he entered. As a member of the tour in 2007 and 2010, he missed 25 of 31 cuts.
“Hopefully I can play more consistently than I have in the past. I used to be more of a risk-taker,” said Potter, an Ocala, Fla., native. “It’s all about learning how to manage your game, and I think I’m finally starting to do that.”
Bionic golfer
With his second-place finish last month at the Stadion Classic, Troy Kelly jumped into the top-10 on the Nationwide Tour money list and demonstrated that his new hip is in fine working order.
Kelly, 32, who was on the PGA Tour in 2009, had hip replacement surgery in September to alleviate pain in his arthritic joint. Kelly cashed checks in his first three events since returning in April. He tees off Thursday at 8:10 a.m.
Qualified success
Benjamin Fox (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) shot a 64 to lead qualifying for the Prince George’s County Open on Tuesday at both Old South Country Club and Northwest Park. Among the seven qualifiers were Junhak Lee of Vienna (65) and David Bradshaw of Harpers Ferry (68), winner of the West Virginia Open five of the last seven years.
