Notes: English confirmed for Winn-Dixie Jacksonville

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FIVE WEEKS AND COUNTING -- Yes, the 2nd Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open presented by Planters is now only five weeks away: Oct. 17-23.

CALLING ALL "DAWGS" -- University of Georgia fans will be happy to learn that four-time Bulldog All-American Harris English turned pro on Monday and has accepted membership to the Nationwide Tour, which became available to him after he won the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational in Columbus, Ohio in July when he was still an amateur. On Tuesday, English announced he will play in at least four of the remaining Nationwide Tour events he is eligible for, including the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open presented by Planters. English graduated from UGA in May. He remained an amateur during the summer and successfully attempted to earn a spot on the U.S. Walker Cup team, which he was held in last week in Aberdeen, Scotland. The 22-year-old from Thomasville, Ga. has indicated his home base will be Sea Island, Ga., where both his management firm and instructor are based.

INVITE ACCEPTED -- Gavin Hall of Pittsford, N.Y. (Rochester area) captured the recent Junior PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass by one shot, with a three-under 211 total. As was the case with last year's winner, Hall has accepted a sponsor's exemption to compete in next month's Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open presented by Planters. The 17-year-old fired a 64 in the second round of the Junior PLAYERS, held on Dye's Valley Course and played using a similar course set-up to what the Nationwide Tour players saw last October. Only one player, champion David Mathis, recorded a lower score (63).

LOCALS -- The goal of every player on the Nationwide Tour is to finish the season among "The 25" leading money winners in order to earn a PGA TOUR card for 2012. Currently, there are four players with local ties who are among "The 25" and two others who are between 26 and 50:

KEY TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

• Oct. 17-23
• Dye's Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass at PGA TOUR headquarters, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
• Final full-field event of 2011 (25th of 26 events)
• 144 players
• $600,000 purse / $108,000 first prize
• 2010 champion: David Mathis
• Dole Pro-Am, Wed. Oct. 19, Dye's Valley & PLAYERS Stadium courses, 108 teams
• Golf Channel coverage -- Thursday through Sunday (8 hours, plus 10 hours of re-air)
• Tickets via Pepsico TICKETS Fore CHARITY ?