Nationwide Tour's season starts next week in Bogota

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The season-long quest for 200+ players to try and earn a 2013 PGA TOUR card via the Nationwide Tour begins next Thursday (Feb. 16th) in Bogota, Colombia. "The 25" leading money winners at season's end will be awarded TOUR cards. The 2012 membership includes 60 players born in 16 countries outside the U.S.

Former United States president Bill Clinton will be at the Country Club de Bogota on Wednesday, Feb. 15th supporting tournament activities, including playing in the pro-am and attending Tuesday's evening's charity gala that will support his Foundation's work in Colombia. It will be the first time a sitting or former president of the U.S. attends a Nationwide Tour event. (Read about President Clinton's trip here.)

The starting fields will be 144 in Colombia and Chile and 132 in Panama, with spots available to the four leaders off the final 2011 Tour de las Americas money list at all three.

The Tour will be off one week after the Latin America swing before starting the 2012 domestic season at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open (March 22-25), marking the Tour's 21st consecutive visit to Le Triomphe Country Club in the Lafayette, La. area.

By season's end, the Nationwide Tour will play 27 events (one more than 2011) in 17 states in the U.S. and four Latin American countries (Mexico Open, June 7-10). The inaugural Chile Classic is joined by another new tournament, the United Leasing Championship at Victoria National Golf Club near Evansville, Ind., in July. The culminating event is the Nationwide Tour Championship, which returns to TPC Craig Ranch near Dallas Oct. 25-28 after three playings at Daniel Island Club in Charleston, S.C.

Golf Channel is the Nationwide Tour's exclusive television home for live coverage and related programming in the U.S. The Tour also has a broadcast presence in 176 countries and territories abroad. Fans can follow the season-long quest for PGA TOUR cards on PGATOUR.COM, Twitter and Facebook.

The Nationwide Tour is very capably represented on the PGA TOUR this year by a diversified class of 25 graduates from 2011 as well as other 2011 members who played their way onto the PGA TOUR via last fall's Qualifying School.

The following are relatively new faces to the Nationwide Tour in 2012 who have strong resumes, demonstrated potential in 2011 and/or have a unique story line:

Joseph Bramlett - Age 23 - born in Stanford, CA...resides in Saratoga, CA...2010 graduate of Stanford U...at 6''4" is one of the Tour's tallest players...after graduating from Stanford and earning his PGA TOUR card, had two top-25 finishes in 25 starts to finish 196th on the money list in 2011...is the only African-American on Tour this year...has conditional status.

Zack Byrd - 25 - born in Asheboro, N.C...resides in Murrells Inlet, S.C...third-team All-American in 2009 at Coastal Carolina U. where he roomed with Dustin Johnson on golf trips...has conditional status.

John Chin - 24 - born in Fairfax, Va....resides in Temecula, Calif...won five events while at the University of California-Irvine, earning 2010 first-team All-American honors...was three-time Big West Conference Player of the Year...plays left handed...has conditional status.

Chris DeForest - 23 - born in Kingston, N.Y...resides in Palm City, Fla...a 2007 graduate of the University of Illinois, where he won five college titles and was an honorable mention All-American...at 6'3" is known for being a very long, straight hitter off the tee...has conditional status.

Aaron Goldberg - 26 - born in La Jolla, Calif...resides in Carlsbad, Calif...a 2008 graduate of San Diego State University where he was recruited by Tim Mickelson and named All-American two times...in his first year on the Nationwide Tour last year, made his last 11 cuts to finish 50th on the money list...is fully exempt.

Adam Hadwin - 24 - born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada...resides in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada...is a 2009 graduate of the University of Louisville where he earned honorable mention All-American honors...impressive in five PGA TOUR starts last year, making every cut and contending in two -- T4 in his national championship (RBC Canadian Open) and T7 in the Frys.com Open...is a two-time Canadian Tour winner...has conditional status.

Russell Henley - 22 - born in Macon, Ga...resides in St. Simons Island, Ga...a 2011 graduate of the University of Georgia...won seven titles in college and numerous honors, including All-American honors and national player of the year recognition...in 2011 became only the second amateur to win a Nationwide Tour event...golf resume is filled with many other amateur achievements...college teammate of Hudson Swafford and Harris English (who later in 2011 became the third amateur to win on Tour)...is fully exempt.

Bio Kim - 21 - born and resides in Seoul, South Korea...attended Yonsei University...finished 162nd on the PGA TOUR money list last year as its youngest member, with five top-25s including a T11 and a T18...has conditional status.

David Lingmerth - 24 - born in Tranas, Sweden...resides in Fayetteville, Ark. where he attended the University of Arkansas, earning honorable mention All-American honors...was a rookie on the Nationwide Tour in 2011 and closed strong, missing his TOUR card by the slimmest of margins (finished 27th on the money list)...his uncle, Goran Lingmerth, kicked for the Cleveland Browns in 1987...plays the drums...is fully exempt.

Luke List - 27 - born in Seattle, Wash...resides in Nashville, Tenn...a 2007 Vanderbilt University grad who was a four-time All-American there...was 2004 U.S. Amateur runner-up to Ryan Moore...this will be his third full season on the Nationwide Tour after improving from 78th to 38th between year one and two...might this be Luke's year to break through?...is fully exempt.

Ben Martin - 24 - born and still resides in Greenwood, S.C...a 2009 graduate of Clemson University...was 2009 U.S. Amateur runner-up...finished T2 at 2010 Q-School, then finished 164th on the PGA TOUR money list, with three top 25s in 25 starts, so he comes to Nationwide Tour after big learning year on PGA TOUR...has conditional status.

Corey Nagy - 23 - born and still resides in Charlotte, N.C...a 2010 graduate of UNC-Charlotte where he won five tournaments and was a four-time All-American and honor student...finished T22 in last year's Chiquita Classic on the Nationwide Tour...won three times and led eGolf Tour money list last year...is fully exempt.

Phillip Pettitt - 26 - born in Richmond, VA...resides in Murfreesboro, Tenn...a 2008 graduate of the University of Tennessee where he twice earned Academic All-SEC honors...made all 17 cuts, with 13 top 25s on the Hooters Tour last year...is fully exempt.

Sam Saunders - 24 - born and still resides in Orlando, Fla...attended Clemson University...has made 16 PGA TOUR starts since 2010, with two top 25s, and 11 starts on the Nationwide Tour since 2009, including a TOUR-best T10 finish last year in Panama...ask him about the 10-foot alligator he once caught...has conditional status.

Michael Sim - 27 - born in Aberdeen Scotland and grew up in Perth, Australia...resides in Scottsdale, Ariz...health issues have plagued the talented Aussie in two prior PGA TOUR stints...played 19 PGA TOUR events last year, skipping August and September all together, making only five cuts...won a Nationwide Tour Battlefield Promotion in 2009, smashing the single season earnings mark with the first $500,000+ year ever ($644,142 or 6.9% of total prize money)...was No. 1 on the money list a record 24 straight weeks...has conditional status.

Hudson Swafford - 24 - born in Lakeland, Fla...resides in Tallahassee, Fla...a 2011 graduate of the University of Georgia, along with Russell Henley and Harris English...was three-time All-American at UGA...missed PGA TOUR card by two shots in December...would love to travel to Italy...is fully exempt.

Gator Todd - 25 - born in Florence, Ala...resides in St. Simons Island, Ga...a 2009 graduate of the University of Alabama whose dad, Richard, played quarterback for the Crimson Tide and the New York Jets (1975-86)...was a research analyst for six months following college, before turning pro...got his nickname because he used to bite people as an infant...has conditional status.

David Vanegas - 25 - born in Medellin, Colombia...resides in Rionegro, Colombia...attended Johnson & Wales University in Florida...has been a member of the Tour de las Americas, Challenge Tour in Europe (one win) and Canadian Tour...in six scattered starts on the Nationwide Tour last year made three cuts, finishing T3, T15 and T40 to finish 99th on the money list...has conditional status.

Will Wilcox - 25 - born and still resides in Birmingham, Ala...a three-time All-American who played at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, then Clayton State...began 2011 with no status, but parlayed a successful Monday qualifying in May into Tour access...finished the season with 18 starts and No. 36 on the money list...is fully exempt.