Power Rankings: Dick's Sporting Goods Open

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Editor's note: Vartan Kupelian is the Champions Tour Insider and a PGATOUR.COM Contributor. Each week, Kupelian will size up the field and provide his top 5 players going into the tournament, based on factors such as the player's strengths, the course setup, recent performances, etc.

Lonnie Nielsen presented himself with a very nice 56th birthday gift last year at the Dick's Sporting Goods Open.

Nielsen shot a final-round 63 for a 3-stroke victory at En-Joie Golf Course over runners-up Fred Funk and Ronnie Black. Nielsen's 21-under-par 195 total was a record for the Dick's Sporting Goods Open.

Nielsen blitzed the start of the round, going 6-under through four holes with a birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie run. Another birdie at the 12th broke a tie with Funk and Nielsen went on to post his second Champions Tour triumph with birdies at the 16th and 18th holes.

Dick's Sporting Goods Open is the 13th of 25 official Charles Schwab Cup events.

This week's Champions Tour Power rankings:

Power Rankings: Dick's Sporting Goods Open

Rank Player   Comment Nick PRICE Game is purring. He has two victories in the bank this year. Top-ranked player in the field on the Money List and Charles Schwab Cup points. Outstanding statistics to support his solid play so far in 2010. Fred FUNK This is where he starts to gear up for the Champions Tour majors which will now come in a rush. Enjoyed a run of eight straight majors with top 7 or better finishes until this year's Senior PGA Championship. He's a major player. Tom PERNICE JR. Splitting time on two tours. Won the SAS Championship in his Champions Tour debut and only '09 start. Three straight top nine finishes this year on the Champions Tour and T7 at Byron Nelson Championship on PGA TOUR. Mark CALCAVECCHIA The adrenalin will be rushing for the newest rookie ready to roll in his Champions Tour debut. He made the cut at the Memorial Tournament and repeatedly said how excited he is to begin a new phase in his career. Dan Forsman He's on a nice run with six top 10s in '10, including a win at Regions where he took control with a second-round 62. He's No. 1 in Greens in Regulation (79.63 percent), No. 7 in driving distance (290 yards) and No. 9 in scoring average (69.33).