Down the stretch _ West is getting tighter…if that’s possible

Now, pretty much every position in the West is up for grabs after a couple of wild days.

Dallas has slipped to ninth and out of the playoffs for now, but still controls its own destiny.

Calgary, meanwhile, has slipped to 11th and officially cannot make the playoffs with 86 points in 80 games.

Meanwhile, there are battles for first overall, for home ice with the fourth seed, and for fifth and sixth place (and the difference between meeting the Pacific Division champion or another Central Division team).

Here are the standings this morning.

Vancouver is 1st in West with 107 points in 79 games (42 ROW)St. Louis is 2nd in West with 106 points in 79 games (44 ROW)Los Angeles is 3rd in West with 91 points in 79 games (33 ROW)(Top seed in Pacific gets 3rd)Nashville is 4th in West with 98 points in 79 games (41 ROW)Detroit is 5th in West with 97 points in 78 games (39 ROW)Chicago is 6th in West with 97 points in 79 games (38 ROW)Phoenix is 7th in West with 91 points in 79 games (33 ROW)San Jose is 8th in West with 90 points in 79 games (32 ROW)Dallas is 9th in West with 89 points in 79 games (35 ROW)Colorado is 10th in West with 88 points in 80 games (32 ROW)

Regulation and overtime wins is the first tiebreaker. the Kings sit in first place in the Pacific today because of the second tiebreaker (head to head) with Phoenix. Los Angeles and Phoenix have identical records and ROW, but LA has eight points in the six-game season series between the two teams, and Phoenix has seven.

Here are the key games from Saturday:

Columbus 5, St. Louis 2 _ Jaroslav Halak had a rare rough night in goal, but mostly the Blues lost their way on special teams. Columbus went 2-for-8 on the power play and put 18 shots on goal with the man advantage (they had only 33 shots for the entire game). the Blues went 0-for-5. This is big, because the Blues slipped behind Vancouver for first overall in the West. That’s big, because the Stars finish the regular season on Saturday against St. Louis and could be seeing a very motivated Blues team. One good thing is St. Louis does play host to Phoenix on Friday and will be playing the second night of a back-to-back.

Vancouver 3, Calgary 2 (OT) _ Roberto Luongo gets back in goal after missing Friday’s game with a sore neck, and stops 31 of 33 shots. the Canucks win their sixth straight and take over first place in the West. Calgary is eliminated with the one point.

Minnesota 4, Los Angeles 3 (SO) _ This was a tough loss for the Kings, as they had a 3-2 lead in the third period. however, it was the second night of back-to-back games and it came with Jonathan Bernier in goal and Jeff Carter out with an ankle injury. the point is huge and it allows the Kings to end their four-game road trip at 2-1-1. Dallas went 1-3-0 on a similar road trip. Carter missed his second game and is expected to get an MRI on Monday. He is not expected to play that night against Edmonton.

Phoenix 4, Anaheim 0 _ This game was a lot tougher than it looked for the Coyotes. Mike Smith stopped 44 shots, including 21 in the first period, to post his second consecutive shutout. His shutout streak right now is 159:59. the former Stars goalie was incredible, as Anaheim had six power plays and fired 14 man advantage shots on net. in addition, Ray Whitney had a goal and an assist for Phoenix and tallied his 1,000th career point. Coyotes host Columbus Tuesday, play at St. Louis Friday and at Minnesota Saturday. that sounds easy, but Columbus and Minnesota have been playing well lately.

Chicago 5, Nashville 4 _ This was another penalty-filled game, and each team scored twice on the power play. it allowed the Blackhawks to push into the mix for second in the Central Division and fourth overall in the West. This is important, because the team that wins the Pacific will play the sixth seed, and that could now be any one of Nashville, Detroit or Chicago. that means the Predators should be pretty fired up when the Stars visit on Thursday. Pekka Rinne allowed five goals on 32 shots, but was playing the second of back-to-back games. the Blackhawks clinched a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive season. Chicago captain Jonathan Toews (concussion) was cleared for contact and could return soon.

Key games on Sunday are:

Florida at DetroitMinnesota at Chicago

Down the stretch _ West is getting tighter…if that’s possible

Girls Golf Equipment – What Suits You Best

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Girls golf clubs are usually brighter in full weight, quicker in canal top, more flexible, with smaller grabs than men’s golf clubs.

Production Technologies

The technologies used in crafting the best golf clubs for women would be the identical to for men’s clubs this fact creates an even playing course for both genders. However, because of lady’s smaller bodily correlating and build lack of muscle strength (generally speaking, of course), girls golf equipment are brighter, hence playing to a slower swing speed. If they do, indeed, buy clubs designed for the females the most can be got by The females out of their clubs.

Girls Iron golf equipment are more flexible, i.e.they bend, and have a weightier clubhead than men’s. The larger and heavier clubhead, plus a more flexible base, are made to increase a woman’s slower swing speed even though the full team weight is lighter than men’s clubs. Women are literally strengthened with a stronger swing and hit with the above mixture. (Some men enjoy because more swing power.can be too reached by them using females Iron golf equipment

Women’s Woods

The typical females Wood clubs have a higher-angled attic and weigh less than men’s Woods. In addition, females Wood golf equipment come in a greater size range. Girls Woods go up as much as a 13-Wood this specific club can change a long Iron because of how easy it is to attack with.

Girls Golf Equipment – What Suits You Best

Randy Travis Passing Through Contemporary Country Music CD Review

Passing Through is the latest Contemporary Country CD put out by the richly talented Randy Travis who once again has delivered a brilliant collection of tracks. I’m confident Randy Travis fans, and Contemporary Country fans alike will be pleased with this one.

This CD grabs your attention right from the very first note with Pick Up the Oars and Row and doesn’t let go until the very last note of the very last song I can See it in your Eyes, which by the way is another great track.

Passing Through has a nicely varied, mix of 12 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly outstanding artist. Most of the songs display a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. clearly drawing from what I can only imagine are him own real life experiences. at different points touching on the most real emotions like love, heartbreak, pain, failed relationships and unattainable romance. They’re all here.

I give Passing Through my highest recommendation. it just plain belongs in any serious music collectors collection regardless of genre preference.

While this entire CD is outstanding the truly standout tunes are track 1 – Pick Up the Oars and Row, track 6 – My Daddy never Was, and track 12 – I can See it in your Eyes.

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [.as in Stuck on REpeat] is track 7 – a Place To Hang My Hat. what a nice track

Passing Through Release Notes:

Randy Travis originally released Passing Through on November 9, 2004 on the Word Entertainment label.

CD Track List follows:

1. Pick Up the Oars and Row

3. that Was Us

6. My Daddy never Was

7. Place To Hang My Hat, A

8. right on Time

10. I’m your Man

12. I can See it in your Eyes

Personnel include: Randy Travis (vocals); Pat Flynn (acoustic guitar); Brent Mason (electric guitar); Dan Dugmore (pedal steel guitar); Larry Franklin (fiddle); John Jarvis (piano, Hammond b-3 organ); Tony Harrell (Hammond b-3 organ); David Hungate (bass instrument); Paul Leim (drums); Eric Darken (percussion); Cindy Walker, Wes Hightower (background vocals).

Recording information: Sound Emporium, Nashville, Tennessee (2001); Stepbridge Studios, Santa Fe, new Mexico (2004); Cartee Day, Nashville, Tennessee (2004); Electric Sandbox, Nashville, TN (2004).

Randy Travis Passing Through Contemporary Country Music CD Review

Ping i15 Golf irons VERSUS Ping G15 Golf irons.

Group: Better-Player Golf irons all of us examined: 3-PW along with Ping AWT metal base

Organization collection: “We created the actual i15 with regard to much better gamers that place reduced upon manage as well as shotmaking. from the intensifying style which includes much more forgiving lengthy golf irons along with additional balance and much more accurate mid- as well as brief golf irons. inches

OUR OWN TESTERS STATE: BENEFITS: Top-rated product with regard to forgiveness; lengthy golf irons tend to be simpler to strike compared to nearly all golf irons within the examination; really steady in effect; constant, repeatable range may be the purchase from the time; share grabs really feel perfect; cleanser take a look at tackle compared to previous versions such as the i10; positioning collection within the clubface is advantageous.

NEGATIVES: somewhat muffled really feel in effect is not really because satisfying because a few other golf irons examined; testers would like much more clubhead really feel with the golf swing; much more drill down in effect compared to anticipated; intensifying balance could be a distraction.

Through Sports activities Highlighted Golf+ Gear Problem (February 8, 2010) the actual multimaterial i15 is made for gamers that function the actual golf ball.

the intensifying arranged, the actual lengthier golf irons tend to be bigger to get more forgiveness, as the mid- as well as short-irons changeover in order to smaller sized clubheads with regard to additional workability. the actual stainless-steel metal includes a tungsten feet place to include forgiveness towards the midsize style.

Through Golfing Mag (December 2009) Ping technicians designed the actual i15 responding in order to need to have an metal which much less blade-like and much more forgiving compared to i10. the end result is really a intensifying arranged along with somewhat larger lengthy golf irons made to obtain photos airborne very easily. Center golf irons as well as small brief golf irons function less wide bottoms as well as much less balance. the tungsten feet place offers much more balance upon off-center strikes, along with a re-designed “Custom Tuning Port” enhances nicely effect really feel.

Group: Game-Improvement Golf irons all of us examined: 3-UW along with Ping AWT metal base

Organization collection: “the club’s ‘floating’ Customized Tuning Slot (CTP) goes much more bulk towards the edge as well as raises MOI. Bodyweight taken off the actual slim, lighting clubface is actually redistributed towards the feet with regard to additional forgiveness. the broader single plays a role in greater starting photos. More powerful lofts (and and may provide a, heavy middle associated with gravity) ought to result in lengthier photos. inches

our own Testers state: BENEFITS: among the best golf irons examined within the course; dependable, therefore simple-to-hit, forgiving as well as precise; restricted dispersal, absolutely no photo actually will go past the boundary through the meant collection; a few testers think it is to become lengthier, normally, compared to their own present golf irons; straight-hitting stays; grips photos through tough along with design; generates repeatable range (on mis-hits, too) as well as expected higher, directly golf ball trip.

NEGATIVES: Wide-ish single as well as balance need a good change time period; middle strikes as well as mis-hits really feel as well comparable for a few panelists; several testers choose a little more shotmaking capability.

Through Sports activities Highlighted Golf+ Gear Problem (February 8, 2010) the actual technologies within the G15 generates the actual high-launch, maximum-forgiveness advantages that many golf players depend on with regard to regularity within their metal perform. More powerful lofts along with a reduced middle associated with the law of gravity lead to lengthier photos without having cutting down the larger velocity needed within a forgiving metal.

Through Golfing Mag (November 2009) the actual up-to-date CTP (Custom Tuning Port) raises edge weighting as well as MOI whilst the broader single generates greater release perspectives. the slimmer clubface (by 5 grams) is considered to improve golf ball pace (1-2 mph quicker equates to 3-6 back yards lengthier have compared to G10 iron). Powerful lofts get complete benefit of these types of high-launch features with regard to maximum have.

Ping i15 Golf irons VERSUS Ping G15 Golf irons.

Notes: Reviews mixed for 2012 N'wide Tour

The PGA Tour has proved to be recession-proof. Look no further than Atlanta, where 30 fortunate souls will divvy up $8 million at the Tour Championship and one player will walk away with an eight-figure check for winning the FedEx Cup.

The Nationwide Tour hasn’t been as fortunate. the tour has 26 events this year, the fewest in its history, and a total purse of $16,075,000, the tour’s smallest since 2005. the tour peaked at 32 events in 2007. This year’s purse is $2.25 million less than last year’s and $2.9 million less than the tour’s peak of 2008, when $18,991,094 was up for grabs.

So, with so much less money available, how much must a player earn to finish among the top 25 on this year’s Nationwide Tour money list? the top 25 at season’s end earn PGA Tour cards.

Even as purses have fluctuated, one thing has remained fairly constant: the proportion of the 25th position on the money list relative to the tour’s total purse. Since 2000 – when the tour’s purses nearly doubled after Buy.com became the title sponsor – the 25th position has averaged 1.13 percent of the tour’s total purse. That’s $181,647 this year. In that time, the 25th position has never been more than 1.18 percent of the tour’s total purse ($189,685 this year).

If that holds true, the top 13 on this year’s money list – J.J. Killeen, Mathew Goggin, Troy Kelly, Gary Christian, Ted Potter, Kyle Thompson, Erik Compton, Russell Knox, Kyle Reifers, Jonas Blixt, Steve Wheatcroft, John Mallinger and Jason Kokrak – should be safely inside the top 25 at season’s end. Kokrak, who won last week’s Boise Open, is 13th on the money list with $187,442.

Brian Smock ($130,717) is currently 25th with five full-field events remaining before the Nationwide Tour Championship. This week’s Soboba Classic has a $750,000 purse, the third-largest on tour.

So, how’s the 2012 Nationwide Tour shaping up after this down year? Reviews seem mixed. the Nationwide Tour recently announced the formation of a new event, the United Leasing Championship, which will be held June 25-July 1, 2012, in Newburgh, Ind. it sounds like some events may not be returning, though.

“We’ve had a lot of renewals this year. it looks like just about everybody is renewing,” Nationwide Tour president bill Calfee told Golfweek. “If you had asked me a couple months ago, I’d have been a little less optimistic. We’ve made a lot of progress.”

Because of the sensitivity surrounding ongoing negotiations, Calfee declined to say which events, if any, were not renewing contracts with the Nationwide Tour.

Hillcrest Country Club, site of last week’s Boise Open on the Nationwide Tour, measures less than 7,000 yards, but distance was the tournament’s key theme.

Long-drive champion Jamie Sadlowski showed he’s more than a sideshow, making the cut in his first tournament in approximately seven years. he led the field in driving distance with an average tee shot of 349.8 yards, despite toning down his swing to keep his ball in play. “If you were to think of a six-speed car, I was probably going in second gear,” he said.

Such distance should be expected of Sadlowski, who’s on the road more than 200 days per years bashing balls at pro-ams and corporate outings. Making the Boise cut, thanks to a second-round 66 that included two eagles, defied even his own expectations. he finished T-75 with a 3-over 287 total.

“I had zero expectations. It’s not what I do,” Sadlowski, 23, told Golfweek. “For the past year, it hasn’t been the focus, so I haven’t done the work that needs to be done. I’m happy with what I’m doing right now. If one day in the near future, we blow an elbow or something, I would pursue (pro golf), but there’s a lot more guys out there that can shoot 65 every day than fly it 400 yards, so we’re going to stick with (long-drive competitions) for the meantime.”

The man that trailed Sadlowski in driving distance last week, Jason Kokrak, won the tournament, which turned him from a maven of the mini-tours into a likely PGA Tour player. Kokrak, the last player in the Boise Open field, found out Tuesday of tournament week that he was in the event. he was in Denver, in the middle of a cross-country journey from Charlotte to Boise, when he got the call. His 18-under 266 total gave him a two-shot win over John Mallinger.

Kokrak, who averaged 343.6 yards per tee shot last week, played his college golf at Xavier and was medalist at the 2007 U.S. Amateur. He’s been a dominant force on the eGolf Professional Tour the past two seasons while holding partial Nationwide Tour status this season. His length is a large advantage, but controlling it was key to his victory. Kokrak, who said he hits a ‘stock’ 8-iron 180 yards, leads the Nationwide Tour in driving distance (320.3 yards per tee shot).

“I tried to pick and choose where my length was most advantageous,” he said. “The key was picking the right time to be aggressive and the right time to play away from the pins. it was important to leave yourself a lot of uphill putts and also yourself plenty of opportunities.”

Sadlowski also didn’t bomb his way around the Hillcrest Country Club, hitting driver just four or five times per round, opting mostly for the 3-iron, which he hits between 280 and 290 yards. the only par-4 he drove was the 359-yard, par-4 10th in a pre-tournament shootout with John Daly. Sadlowski hit hybrid on the green. he is a +1.1 handicap and has a career-low round of 64.

The Boise Open was just Kokrak’s 11th start of the season. the $130,500 first-place check moved him to 13th on the money list with $187,442. That may be enough for Kokrak, 26, to finish in the top 25 on the Nationwide Tour money list and earn his 2012 PGA Tour card.

Kokrak also leads the eGolf Professional Tour money list despite playing just three events. He’s won twice and finished second in his other start, good for $85,460. he was the tour’s leading money winner in 2010 thanks to eight top-10s, including two victories, in 11 starts.

John Mallinger needed just five Nationwide Tour starts to crack the top 25 on the money list. Mallinger, who finished 133rd on last year’s PGA Tour money list, is No. 12 on the Nationwide Tour thanks to three consecutive top-three finishes, including a runner-up finish at the Boise Open. Mallinger didn’t have a single top 25 in 13 PGA Tour starts earlier this year until a 12th in the Wyndham Championship. he then finished 3rd-2nd-2nd in three consecutive Nationwide Tour starts. Add a ninth-place finish at the Stadion Classic at UGA, and Mallinger has earned $188,050 on this year’s Nationwide Tour. He’s 12th on the money list, and may have already earned enough to clinch his 2012 PGA Tour card.

Jonas Blixt’s tie for third at the Boise Open was his third top-3 in his past six starts, a hot streak that has moved the 27-year-old Swede from 54th to 10th on the money list and has likely clinched his first PGA Tour card.

Blixt has made six consecutive cuts and has a 67.5 scoring average in that span, including two 62s, a 63 and a 64. He’s a combined 91 under par in his past six events. of the $196,722 he’s earned this season, $150,337 has come in his past six events. That’s 76.4 percent of his season earnings.

The Soboba Golf Classic is one of only five full-field events remaining on the 2011 Nationwide Tour schedule. with time running out on the season and a healthy $750,000 purse available this week, 90 of the tour’s top-100 money winners are entered. … Georgia and Walker Cup teammates Russell Henley and Harris English will make their pro debuts at this week’s Soboba Classic. English accepted Nationwide Tour membership after his victory at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational. Henley is competing on a sponsor exemption. Henley could not accept membership because he waited more than 60 days to turn pro after his victory at the Stadion Classic. … the Soboba Classic is a homecoming of sorts for J.J. Killeen, the Nationwide Tour’s leading money winner. Killeen was born in San Diego, about 1 hour, 45 minutes from the Country Club at Soboba Springs. Killeen has finished fifth in his past two appearances at Soboba.

Notes: Reviews mixed for 2012 N'wide Tour

Tankards Trophy is up for grabs in fundraising golf tournament

Weather for Leamington

Thursday 13 October 2011

Temperature: 9 C to 16 C

Friday 14 October 2011

Temperature: 8 C to 16 C

Wind direction: South east

Saturday 15 October 2011

Temperature: 8 C to 16 C

Wind direction: South

Sunday 16 October 2011

Temperature: 8 C to 15 C

Wind direction: South west

Monday 17 October 2011

Temperature: 5 C to 12 C

Wind direction: South west

Tankards Trophy is up for grabs in fundraising golf tournament

Notes: Reviews mixed for 2012 N'wide Tour

The PGA Tour has proved to be recession-proof. look no further than Atlanta, where 30 fortunate souls will divvy up $8 million at the Tour Championship and one player will walk away with an eight-figure check for winning the FedEx Cup.

The Nationwide Tour hasn’t been as fortunate. the tour has 26 events this year, the fewest in its history, and a total purse of $16,075,000, the tour’s smallest since 2005. the tour peaked at 32 events in 2007. this year’s purse is $2.25 million less than last year’s and $2.9 million less than the tour’s peak of 2008, when $18,991,094 was up for grabs.

So, with so much less money available, how much must a player earn to finish among the top 25 on this year’s Nationwide Tour money list? the top 25 at season’s end earn PGA Tour cards.

Even as purses have fluctuated, one thing has remained fairly constant: the proportion of the 25th position on the money list relative to the tour’s total purse. Since 2000 – when the tour’s purses nearly doubled after Buy.com became the title sponsor – the 25th position has averaged 1.13 percent of the tour’s total purse. That’s $181,647 this year. In that time, the 25th position has never been more than 1.18 percent of the tour’s total purse ($189,685 this year).

If that holds true, the top 13 on this year’s money list – J.J. Killeen, Mathew Goggin, Troy Kelly, Gary Christian, Ted Potter, Kyle Thompson, Erik Compton, Russell Knox, Kyle Reifers, Jonas Blixt, Steve Wheatcroft, John Mallinger and Jason Kokrak – should be safely inside the top 25 at season’s end. Kokrak, who won last week’s Boise Open, is 13th on the money list with $187,442.

Brian Smock ($130,717) is currently 25th with five full-field events remaining before the Nationwide Tour Championship. this week’s Soboba Classic has a $750,000 purse, the third-largest on tour.

So, how’s the 2012 Nationwide Tour shaping up after this down year? Reviews seem mixed. the Nationwide Tour recently announced the formation of a new event, the United Leasing Championship, which will be held June 25-July 1, 2012, in Newburgh, Ind. it sounds like some events may not be returning, though.

“We’ve had a lot of renewals this year. it looks like just about everybody is renewing,” Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee told Golfweek. “If you had asked me a couple months ago, I’d have been a little less optimistic. We’ve made a lot of progress.”

Because of the sensitivity surrounding ongoing negotiations, Calfee declined to say which events, if any, were not renewing contracts with the Nationwide Tour.

Hillcrest Country Club, site of last week’s Boise Open on the Nationwide Tour, measures less than 7,000 yards, but distance was the tournament’s key theme.

Long-drive champion Jamie Sadlowski showed he’s more than a sideshow, making the cut in his first tournament in approximately seven years. He led the field in driving distance with an average tee shot of 349.8 yards, despite toning down his swing to keep his ball in play. “If you were to think of a six-speed car, I was probably going in second gear,” he said.

Such distance should be expected of Sadlowski, who’s on the road more than 200 days per years bashing balls at pro-ams and corporate outings. making the Boise cut, thanks to a second-round 66 that included two eagles, defied even his own expectations. He finished T-75 with a 3-over 287 total.

“I had zero expectations. It’s not what I do,” Sadlowski, 23, told Golfweek. “For the past year, it hasn’t been the focus, so I haven’t done the work that needs to be done. I’m happy with what I’m doing right now. if one day in the near future, we blow an elbow or something, I would pursue (pro golf), but there’s a lot more guys out there that can shoot 65 every day than fly it 400 yards, so we’re going to stick with (long-drive competitions) for the meantime.”

The man that trailed Sadlowski in driving distance last week, Jason Kokrak, won the tournament, which turned him from a maven of the mini-tours into a likely PGA Tour player. Kokrak, the last player in the Boise Open field, found out Tuesday of tournament week that he was in the event. He was in Denver, in the middle of a cross-country journey from Charlotte to Boise, when he got the call. his 18-under 266 total gave him a two-shot win over John Mallinger.

Kokrak, who averaged 343.6 yards per tee shot last week, played his college golf at Xavier and was medalist at the 2007 U.S. Amateur. He’s been a dominant force on the eGolf Professional Tour the past two seasons while holding partial Nationwide Tour status this season. his length is a large advantage, but controlling it was key to his victory. Kokrak, who said he hits a ‘stock’ 8-iron 180 yards, leads the Nationwide Tour in driving distance (320.3 yards per tee shot).

“I tried to pick and choose where my length was most advantageous,” he said. “The key was picking the right time to be aggressive and the right time to play away from the pins. it was important to leave yourself a lot of uphill putts and also yourself plenty of opportunities.”

Sadlowski also didn’t bomb his way around the Hillcrest Country Club, hitting driver just four or five times per round, opting mostly for the 3-iron, which he hits between 280 and 290 yards. the only par-4 he drove was the 359-yard, par-4 10th in a pre-tournament shootout with John Daly. Sadlowski hit hybrid on the green. He is a +1.1 handicap and has a career-low round of 64.

The Boise Open was just Kokrak’s 11th start of the season. the $130,500 first-place check moved him to 13th on the money list with $187,442. That may be enough for Kokrak, 26, to finish in the top 25 on the Nationwide Tour money list and earn his 2012 PGA Tour card.

Kokrak also leads the eGolf Professional Tour money list despite playing just three events. He’s won twice and finished second in his other start, good for $85,460. He was the tour’s leading money winner in 2010 thanks to eight top-10s, including two victories, in 11 starts.

John Mallinger needed just five Nationwide Tour starts to crack the top 25 on the money list. Mallinger, who finished 133rd on last year’s PGA Tour money list, is No. 12 on the Nationwide Tour thanks to three consecutive top-three finishes, including a runner-up finish at the Boise Open. Mallinger didn’t have a single top 25 in 13 PGA Tour starts earlier this year until a 12th in the Wyndham Championship. He then finished 3rd-2nd-2nd in three consecutive Nationwide Tour starts. Add a ninth-place finish at the Stadion Classic at UGA, and Mallinger has earned $188,050 on this year’s Nationwide Tour. He’s 12th on the money list, and may have already earned enough to clinch his 2012 PGA Tour card.

Jonas Blixt’s tie for third at the Boise Open was his third top-3 in his past six starts, a hot streak that has moved the 27-year-old Swede from 54th to 10th on the money list and has likely clinched his first PGA Tour card.

Blixt has made six consecutive cuts and has a 67.5 scoring average in that span, including two 62s, a 63 and a 64. He’s a combined 91 under par in his past six events. of the $196,722 he’s earned this season, $150,337 has come in his past six events. That’s 76.4 percent of his season earnings.

The Soboba Golf Classic is one of only five full-field events remaining on the 2011 Nationwide Tour schedule. With time running out on the season and a healthy $750,000 purse available this week, 90 of the tour’s top-100 money winners are entered. … Georgia and Walker Cup teammates Russell Henley and Harris English will make their pro debuts at this week’s Soboba Classic. English accepted Nationwide Tour membership after his victory at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational. Henley is competing on a sponsor exemption. Henley could not accept membership because he waited more than 60 days to turn pro after his victory at the Stadion Classic. … the Soboba Classic is a homecoming of sorts for J.J. Killeen, the Nationwide Tour’s leading money winner. Killeen was born in San Diego, about 1 hour, 45 minutes from the Country Club at Soboba Springs. Killeen has finished fifth in his past two appearances at Soboba.

Notes: Reviews mixed for 2012 N'wide Tour

Notes: Reviews mixed for 2012 N'wide Tour

The PGA Tour has proved to be recession-proof. Look no further than Atlanta, where 30 fortunate souls will divvy up $8 million at the Tour Championship and one player will walk away with an eight-figure check for winning the FedEx Cup.

The Nationwide Tour hasn’t been as fortunate. The tour has 26 events this year, the fewest in its history, and a total purse of $16,075,000, the tour’s smallest since 2005. The tour peaked at 32 events in 2007. This year’s purse is $2.25 million less than last year’s and $2.9 million less than the tour’s peak of 2008, when $18,991,094 was up for grabs.

So, with so much less money available, how much must a player earn to finish among the top 25 on this year’s Nationwide Tour money list? The top 25 at season’s end earn PGA Tour cards.

Even as purses have fluctuated, one thing has remained fairly constant: the proportion of the 25th position on the money list relative to the tour’s total purse. Since 2000 – when the tour’s purses nearly doubled after Buy.com became the title sponsor – the 25th position has averaged 1.13 percent of the tour’s total purse. That’s $181,647 this year. in that time, the 25th position has never been more than 1.18 percent of the tour’s total purse ($189,685 this year).

If that holds true, the top 13 on this year’s money list – J.J. Killeen, Mathew Goggin, Troy Kelly, Gary Christian, Ted Potter, Kyle Thompson, Erik Compton, Russell Knox, Kyle Reifers, Jonas Blixt, Steve Wheatcroft, John Mallinger and Jason Kokrak – should be safely inside the top 25 at season’s end. Kokrak, who won last week’s Boise Open, is 13th on the money list with $187,442.

Brian Smock ($130,717) is currently 25th with five full-field events remaining before the Nationwide Tour Championship. This week’s Soboba Classic has a $750,000 purse, the third-largest on tour.

So, how’s the 2012 Nationwide Tour shaping up after this down year? Reviews seem mixed. The Nationwide Tour recently announced the formation of a new event, the United Leasing Championship, which will be held June 25-July 1, 2012, in Newburgh, Ind. it sounds like some events may not be returning, though.

“We’ve had a lot of renewals this year. it looks like just about everybody is renewing,” Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee told Golfweek. “If you had asked me a couple months ago, I’d have been a little less optimistic. We’ve made a lot of progress.”

Because of the sensitivity surrounding ongoing negotiations, Calfee declined to say which events, if any, were not renewing contracts with the Nationwide Tour.

Hillcrest Country Club, site of last week’s Boise Open on the Nationwide Tour, measures less than 7,000 yards, but distance was the tournament’s key theme.

Long-drive champion Jamie Sadlowski showed he’s more than a sideshow, making the cut in his first tournament in approximately seven years. He led the field in driving distance with an average tee shot of 349.8 yards, despite toning down his swing to keep his ball in play. “If you were to think of a six-speed car, I was probably going in second gear,” he said.

Such distance should be expected of Sadlowski, who’s on the road more than 200 days per years bashing balls at pro-ams and corporate outings. making the Boise cut, thanks to a second-round 66 that included two eagles, defied even his own expectations. He finished T-75 with a 3-over 287 total.

“I had zero expectations. It’s not what I do,” Sadlowski, 23, told Golfweek. “For the past year, it hasn’t been the focus, so I haven’t done the work that needs to be done. I’m happy with what I’m doing right now. if one day in the near future, we blow an elbow or something, I would pursue (pro golf), but there’s a lot more guys out there that can shoot 65 every day than fly it 400 yards, so we’re going to stick with (long-drive competitions) for the meantime.”

The man that trailed Sadlowski in driving distance last week, Jason Kokrak, won the tournament, which turned him from a maven of the mini-tours into a likely PGA Tour player. Kokrak, the last player in the Boise Open field, found out Tuesday of tournament week that he was in the event. He was in Denver, in the middle of a cross-country journey from Charlotte to Boise, when he got the call. his 18-under 266 total gave him a two-shot win over John Mallinger.

Kokrak, who averaged 343.6 yards per tee shot last week, played his college golf at Xavier and was medalist at the 2007 U.S. Amateur. He’s been a dominant force on the eGolf Professional Tour the past two seasons while holding partial Nationwide Tour status this season. his length is a large advantage, but controlling it was key to his victory. Kokrak, who said he hits a ‘stock’ 8-iron 180 yards, leads the Nationwide Tour in driving distance (320.3 yards per tee shot).

“I tried to pick and choose where my length was most advantageous,” he said. “The key was picking the right time to be aggressive and the right time to play away from the pins. it was important to leave yourself a lot of uphill putts and also yourself plenty of opportunities.”

Sadlowski also didn’t bomb his way around the Hillcrest Country Club, hitting driver just four or five times per round, opting mostly for the 3-iron, which he hits between 280 and 290 yards. The only par-4 he drove was the 359-yard, par-4 10th in a pre-tournament shootout with John Daly. Sadlowski hit hybrid on the green. He is a +1.1 handicap and has a career-low round of 64.

The Boise Open was just Kokrak’s 11th start of the season. The $130,500 first-place check moved him to 13th on the money list with $187,442. That may be enough for Kokrak, 26, to finish in the top 25 on the Nationwide Tour money list and earn his 2012 PGA Tour card.

Kokrak also leads the eGolf Professional Tour money list despite playing just three events. He’s won twice and finished second in his other start, good for $85,460. He was the tour’s leading money winner in 2010 thanks to eight top-10s, including two victories, in 11 starts.

John Mallinger needed just five Nationwide Tour starts to crack the top 25 on the money list. Mallinger, who finished 133rd on last year’s PGA Tour money list, is no. 12 on the Nationwide Tour thanks to three consecutive top-three finishes, including a runner-up finish at the Boise Open. Mallinger didn’t have a single top 25 in 13 PGA Tour starts earlier this year until a 12th in the Wyndham Championship. He then finished 3rd-2nd-2nd in three consecutive Nationwide Tour starts. Add a ninth-place finish at the Stadion Classic at UGA, and Mallinger has earned $188,050 on this year’s Nationwide Tour. He’s 12th on the money list, and may have already earned enough to clinch his 2012 PGA Tour card.

Jonas Blixt’s tie for third at the Boise Open was his third top-3 in his past six starts, a hot streak that has moved the 27-year-old Swede from 54th to 10th on the money list and has likely clinched his first PGA Tour card.

Blixt has made six consecutive cuts and has a 67.5 scoring average in that span, including two 62s, a 63 and a 64. He’s a combined 91 under par in his past six events. Of the $196,722 he’s earned this season, $150,337 has come in his past six events. That’s 76.4 percent of his season earnings.

The Soboba Golf Classic is one of only five full-field events remaining on the 2011 Nationwide Tour schedule. With time running out on the season and a healthy $750,000 purse available this week, 90 of the tour’s top-100 money winners are entered. … Georgia and Walker Cup teammates Russell Henley and Harris English will make their pro debuts at this week’s Soboba Classic. English accepted Nationwide Tour membership after his victory at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational. Henley is competing on a sponsor exemption. Henley could not accept membership because he waited more than 60 days to turn pro after his victory at the Stadion Classic. … The Soboba Classic is a homecoming of sorts for J.J. Killeen, the Nationwide Tour’s leading money winner. Killeen was born in San Diego, about 1 hour, 45 minutes from the Country Club at Soboba Springs. Killeen has finished fifth in his past two appearances at Soboba.

Notes: Reviews mixed for 2012 N'wide Tour