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 Rickie Fowler most recently competed as an amateur in the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship (PHOTO: ©USGA Museum/Robert Walker). A fresh course, $1 million in prize money and one of the best fields of the season are on tap for October’s Soboba Classic, the newest event on the Nationwide Tour schedule. And those qualities were in place before it was confirmed last month that heralded amateur Rickie Fowler would make the Soboba Classic one of his first stops as a professional. “It’s really sparked an interest,” said tournament director Doug Hoffort of Fowler’s entry. “We’re anticipating upwards of 10,000 more tickets for the week just because of Rickie.” A Murrieta native, Fowler won both national freshman and player of the year honors during his first season at Oklahoma State. The former top-ranked amateur in the world possesses one of the quickest swing tempos you’ll ever see, and don’t be surprised to see him contend on the Nationwide Tour or other professional circuits right away. Besides Fowler, here are five other players with local ties who could make noise at the Soboba Classic, which will be held October 1-4 at the Country Club at Soboba Springs in San Jacinto (money list standings are through last month’s Wayne Gretzky Classic). The Nationwide Tour’s top 25 players at year’s end earn PGA Tour cards for 2010, so those inside the top 10 now are essentially locks for that status. Roger Tambellini Money list: Third. Why to watch him: The former USC golfer won the Wayne Gretzky Classic to virtually guarantee a return trip to the PGA Tour in 2010. Tambellini has shown few chinks in his armor this season and makes a lot of birdies (4.32 per round). He no longer has the pressure of trying to qualify for the PGA Tour, so expect an aggressive mentality from Tambellini every time he tees it up. Chris Tidland Money list: Eighth. Why to watch him: Tidland is one of the most familiar names in Nationwide Tour history, with more than 200 starts on the circuit. He got his first victory last year at the Boise Open, though that wasn’t enough to earn him playing privileges on the PGA Tour this year. And while the Torrance native hasn’t won in 2009, he’s garnered a pair of second-place finishes, including a playoff loss, and will be back on the PGA Tour next season. Jeff Gove Money list: 10th. Why to watch him: If you’re a fan of solid ballstriking, watch Gove. The former golfer at Pepperdine University and current San Diego County resident hits the ball as well as any touring professional, and this season he ranks fourth on the Nationwide Tour in greens in regulation. Like Tidland, he hasn’t won this season, but he’ll be back on the PGA Tour in 2010. Todd Demsey Money list: 58th. Why to watch him: Few professional golfers have a more inspirational comeback story than Demsey, who has overcome back problems and two surgeries to remove a benign tumor in his left sinus cavity. A former amateur standout at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego and NCAA champion at Arizona State, Demsey returned to the PGA Tour in 2008 but is back on the Nationwide Tour this season. The 37-year-old missed only three cuts in his first 13 events but didn’t post that signature finish to vault him up the money list. Such a finish at the Soboba Classic would indeed be memorable. Bob May Money list: 59th. Why to watch him: It’s hard to believe it’s been almost 10 years since May, a Lynwood native, took Tiger Woods to the brink of defeat in the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. Woods, who beat May by a stroke in a three-hole aggregate playoff for the title, has obviously thrived, while May has enjoyed a decidedly lower profile since that memorable effort. This season, May has four top-25 finishes. Eli Miller is the managing editor of Southland Golf. Reach him at emiller@churmmedia.com. |
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