Nationwide Tour Storylines: Week of Feb. 26, 2008

text size

Win earns Porter Nationwide Tour privileges through 2009 -- By winning last week's Moonah Classic, Australian Ewan Porter became a fully-exempt Nationwide Tour member through 2009. Porter, who earned a seven-shot victory, posted a final-round 66 on a day when the wind blew hard and the average score was 74.5. "This is going to change my life," said the 25-year old from Cronulla, Australia. "I'll sit down soon and reassess my plans for the rest of the year." Porter, the leader after the first three rounds, nearly withdrew on Saturday morning when he injured his neck in a pre-round workout. He indicated he will relocate to Scottsdale, Ariz., home to fellow Aussies and Nationwide Tour alums Matt Jones and Aaron Baddeley and 2006 U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy. The win was the first of Porter's professional career. In 2005, he competed in 17 Nationwide Tour events.

Ewan Porter

An emotional win -- Ewan Porter became quite emotional in dedicating his Moonah Classic win to close friend, Scott Laws, who passed away last December. "In 2005 I was playing on the Nationwide Tour and came back to Australia for three weeks and he was the first person I went to see because I wasn't doing so well over there (U.S.). I was emotionally in a terrible state and he was there for me. Look where I am now and what's happened. I wish he was here. Speaking at his funeral was the toughest thing I ever had to do, and I said to his parents: I am going to win a tournament, and I am going to dedicate it to Scotty and I'm so glad I did."

Brian Gay win is No. 221 -- Brian Gay's win at the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya on Sunday was the 221st time a Nationwide Tour alum has won on the PGA TOUR.

Consistent Lyle retains No. 1 spot on money list -- Australian Jarrod Lyle posted a tie for fifth in the Moonah Classic to maintain the top spot on the Nationwide Tour money list at the completion of the Tour's four-event Panama, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia swing. With a win at the 50th Mexico Open complemented by a tie for sixth and a tie for 15th in his other two starts, Lyle has earnings of $172,159. Ewan Porter is in the No. 2 spot with $149,798, followed by HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship winner Darron Stiles with $129,946.

Aussies rule -- Ewan Porter joined Jarrod Lyle in the 2008 winner's circle giving Australians their 32nd and 33rd Nationwide Tour wins. This is the most by any country outside the United States. Twenty-two different players account for the 33 wins.

Tee McCabe

Tee McCabe posts runner-up/career-best finish -- Aided by four eagles, American Tee McCabe enjoyed his best finish in 46 Nationwide Tour starts in the Moonah Classic, a runner-up. The Marco Island, Fla., resident's previous top performance was a tie for fourth in last year's Ft. Smith (Ark.) Classic. McCabe's father, Terry, formerly was a club designer for Titleist. He designed clubs such as the T-Line putters, forged irons and burner woods and the 975D driver and 681 forged-steel irons Tiger Woods used in 1997.

50th Mexico Open highlight show to air March 2 -- A one-hour highlight show of the 50th Mexico Open presented by Corona will air this coming Sunday (March 2) from 1-2 p.m. ET on GOLF CHANNEL. It will reair the same night from 2-3 a.m. ET. Jarrod Lyle captured his first professional win at the Tres Marias Golf Club in Moreilia on Feb. 3.

Nick Flanagan/Roland Thatcher post top 10s on PGA TOUR -- Nick Flanagan and Roland Thatcher, who finished second and third respectively on last year's Nationwide Tour money list, posted their best finishes of the young PGA TOUR season in the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya, both tied for ninth. Flanagan closed with a 64.