Storylines: Californians faring well on Tour in 2010

text size

Cannon/Getty Images

Jamie Lovemark returns to his home state to play in the Fresh Express Classic this week.

MYLAN CLASSIC ALIGNS WITH ARNOLD PALMER -- One of Western Pennsylvania's most prominent and respected native sons, Arnold Palmer, has agreed to serve as Honorary Chairman for the inaugural playing of his home state's new Nationwide Tour event, the Mylan Classic presented by CONSOL Energy. The World Golf Hall of Fame member grew up and still has a home in nearby Latrobe, Pa. The tournament will be played Sept. 2-5 at Southpointe Golf Club in Canonsburg, Pa.

FRESH EXPRESS SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON JERRY RICE -- This week may be as nerve wracking as any Jerry Rice experienced in his 20-year NFL career. On Thursday the 47-year-old former NFL pass-catching great will tee off and compete against 155 other players who all aspire to be on the PGA TOUR. Rice, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 7th, is a scratch golfer. He will compete as a professional. "This is not a publicity stunt," said Rice. "I am serious. I have too much respect for the game and for the players. I know these guys (on tour) are on a different level. I want to perform well and would love to make the cut." In addition to his competitive role, Rice is the tournament host and his Jerry Rice 127 Foundation will receive tournament proceeds. Only a handful of other former professional athletes have competed in Nationwide Tour events -- Al Del Greco (two NWT events), Brett Hull (three), Ivan Lendl (three), Dan Quinn (four), Mark Rypien (one) and Ralph Terry (one). None has made the cut.

NATIONWIDE TOUR WELCOMES FRESH EXPRESS -- The Nationwide Tour welcomes Fresh Express, a division of Chiquita Brands, as title sponsor of the Tour's San Francisco Bay area event. Fresh Express joins six other prominent companies who are new to the Nationwide Tour in 2010 -- Chiquita (Cincinnati, Ohio tournament), Claro (Panama City, Panama), Pacific Rubiales (Bogota, Colombia), Mylan (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Stadion (Athens, Ga.) and Winn-Dixie (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.). Fresh Express, creator of the retail packaged salad category, is based in Salinas, Calif.

SIX CALIFORNIANS AMONG CURRENT "25" -- Californians are faring very well in the early-season competition for "The 25" as the Nationwide Tour heads to their home state. No. 4 Steve Pate (Westlake Village/UCLA), No. 9 Jamie Lovemark (San Diego/USC), No. 13 James Hahn (Alameda/UC-Berkeley), No. 19 Kevin Chappell (Fresno/UCLA), No. 20 Brian Vranesh (Northridge/College of the Canyons) and No. 22 Jeff Brehaut (Los Altos/U. of the Pacific) give the Golden State six of the top 22 players on the Nationwide Tour after five of 29 events.

JERRY'S FRIENDS -- Wednesday's Fresh Express Classic at TPC Stonebrae pro-am will be a celebrity-filled affair. Joining tournament host and contestant Jerry Rice are friends and former NFL stars Dave Kreig, Tim Brown, Ronnie Lott, Fred Biletnikoff, Dwight Clark, Bruce Gossett, Eric Wright and James Lofton. Artists/entertainers Nick and Drew Lachey, poker guru Phil Helmuth, former MLB stars Joe Carter and J.T. Snow, hockey's Grant Fuhr and basketball standout Jennifer Azzi of Stanford and the WNBA will also play.

GOING BACK TO AUGUSTA NATIONAL -- Five Nationwide Tour alumni have assured they will receive a 2011 Masters invitation based on their top-16 finishes on Sunday -- Nick Watney (7th), Ricky Barnes (T10), Jerry Kelly (T12), Steve Marino (T14) and David Toms (T14). Marino was a first-time Masters participant.

A HOLE-IN-ONE TO TRUMP AUGUSTA'S -- Australian Nathan Green deservedly got a great deal of attention for making an ace on Augusta National's 16th hole on Sunday (along with Ryan Moore). His very attractive reward was a pair of crystal goblets for the eagle and a large crystal bowl for the hole-in-one. But another ace made in the 2001 Australian Masters had perhaps the most influence of any one shot in his career. The 2009 RBC Canadian Open winner won $500,000 Australian (about $466,000 U.S.) when he jarred a par-3 tee shot in the final round at Huntingdale Golf Club in Melbourne. "It's sort of why I'm here," said Green, a 2005 Nationwide Tour graduate. "It helped me go over and play the Nationwide Tour. I bought my first place with it. That's been probably one of the biggest influences on what allowed me to come and do this."

ROOKIE MARK ANDERSON RECEIVES VERIZON HERITAGE INVITE -- Nationwide Tour rookie Mark Anderson will compete in this week's Verizon Heritage on the PGA TOUR as a sponsor exemption. Anderson resides near Hilton Head, S.C. in Beaufort and played collegiately at the University of South Carolina (2008, Business Management degree). He is playing in the Verizon Heritage for the second year in a row. In 2009, he was invited based on his win in the prestigious Players Amateur in 2008 played in nearby Bluffton, S.C. Anderson missed the cut in what was his first and only PGA TOUR start to date. With two top 10s in five starts, the Maryland native is off to a good start on the Nationwide Tour this year. He is 16th on the money list.

BIRTHDAY BOYS -- Celebrating birthdays this week in California are Sal Spallone of Vero Beach, Fla. and Texas Christian University (April 13th / 32) and Australia's Bronson La'Cassie out of the University of Minnesota (April 15th / 27).

NEXT WEEK -- The Nationwide Tour travels cross country to Valdosta, Ga. for the South Georgia Classic presented by First State Bank and Trust Company (April 22-25) at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club. At 7,781 yards, Kinderlou Forest in the longest course on the Tour's schedule by approximately 300 yards.