Simpson Finishes Second in First Nationwide Tour Start
7/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
July 20, 2008
WINSTON-SALEM - Former Demon Deacon standout Webb Simpson fired a final round 65 to finish second at the Nationwide Tour's Price Cutter Charity Championship in Springfield, Mo., Sunday.
The 65 was Simpson's lowest round since turning professional just two months ago. He opened the tournament with rounds of 66-68-67 and entered the final round tied for second.
Simpson opened play on Sunday with four birdies in his first five holes and would go on to card a 6-under 30 on the opening nine. He found himself with a two-shot lead over former Walker Cup teammate Colt Knost at the turn. Simpson, however, would make just one birdie over the final nine holes while Knost, aided by back-to-back eagles on 10 and 11, would close with a 7-under 29 and win the tournament by four shots.
Simpson, who Monday qualified to get into the field at the Price Cutter, made his fourth cut in six tournaments this season. The Raleigh, N.C. native is a 2008 graduate of Wake Forest and was named the 2008 ACC Player of the Year this past spring. He also earned All-America honors for the second straight season.
The $64,800 payday for Simpson puts him 59th on the Nationwide Tour money list with 12 tournaments remaining in the season. The top-25 players on the money list at the end of the season earn their PGA Tour card for 2009 while players 26 through 60 on the money list earn their 2009 Nationwide Tour card.
Kyle Reifers, a 2006 WFU graduate, finished tied for 47th at the Price Cutter Charity Championship and moved up one spot on the money list to 29th.
In other golf action this weekend, 2004 Wake Forest graduate Bill Haas posted four rounds in the 60's to finish tied for 19th at the PGA Tour's U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee. This was the third top-20 finish for Haas in his last five tournaments.
The only other former Demon Deacon in action at the U.S. Bank Championship was Ron Whittaker, who carded a season-low 65 on Sunday to make his second straight cut. Whittaker finished the tournament tied for 61st.
At the Champions Tour 3M Championship, Gary Hallberg carded his three lowest rounds of the season (66-68-65) to finish at 17-under and tied for second. Scott Hoch finished tied for 24th at 9-under and Curtis Strange posted 7-under to finish tied for 36th. Leonard Thompson fired a 5-under 67 in the final round and finished tied for 62nd with fellow Wake graduate Joe Inman.
Players Mentioned
