The Nationwide Tour heads into south Florida for the Miccosukee Classic, the tour’s final full-field event of the season.
In just its third year on the schedule, the Miccosukee Classic is quickly becoming quite the late season stop as it represents the last chance for many players to earn entry into the lucrative Tour Championship.
The top-60 on the money list following the Miccosukee Classic qualify for next week’s battle at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama.
Currently, Scott Peterson has a slim $6,600 lead over former PGA Tour veteran Brian Henninger for the 60th spot. And right on their heels is a group of seven players within $10,000 of Henninger.
Granted, it is the top-21 - not the top-60 - on the money list that earn their PGA Tour cards for 2006, but if a player could make his way into the Tour Championship its $117,000 first-place check could vault the winner well up the money list.
Troy Matteson and Jason Gore, 1-2 on the money, are not in the field. Matteson will be back in action next week while Gore, on the strength of his three wins on tour this year, earned the PGA Tour’s Battlefield Promotion and is securely on the big tour through 2006.
Last year Nick Watney posted a final-round 3-under 69 to capture the title. The victory propelled him into the Tour Championship where he then secured his card for the 2005 PGA Tour. Currently, he stands 118th on the PGA Tour money list after a strong finish in Las Vegas last week.
The purse for the Miccosukee Championship is $650,000.
The Golf Channel will carry all four rounds live beginning Thursday at 1:30 p.m. ET.
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