To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the NGA TOUR, we have assembled a “Panel of Experts” who specialize in the golf industry and have the experience of covering the NGA TOUR for multiple seasons. This panel of experts will make their top-five selections each week for the NGA TOUR 18 Pro Series events this season and they continue with this week’s NeSmith Chevrolet Classic being held at Sapelo Hammock in Shellman Bluff, Ga.
NeSmith Chevrolet’s motto is “ain’t nothing wrong with the right price,” and you can bet the following players will be hoping for the right price this week!
We are in full swing for our Races to the Reno-Tahoe Open Exemption on the PGA TOUR and the BMW Charity Pro-Am Classic Exemption on the Web.com Tour and the NeSmith Chevrolet Classic will go a long way in determining both. The NeSmith Chevrolet Classic is the third leg of our “Race to the BMW Charity Pro-Am Classic Exemption” and the fifth event of 15 that will determine the tour’s winner of the “Reno-Tahoe Open Exemption.”
These exemptions provide our members with the opportunity to move up to the larger tours in-season, which is the goal of all professional golfers at this level. The following NGA TOUR members will have a lot on the line this week and the weeks to come as they are all in the running for these exemptions.
Trent Whitekiller (Sallisaw, Okla.) leads this week’s picks after being selected on three of our experts’ cards with Jim Ellis from the Miami News-Record and Kevin Faigle of WRDW-TV CBS in Augusta projecting the Oklahoma State alum to win. The Super Rook has been impressive thus far this season making all five of his cuts with four top 10s and a runner-up finish at the Killearn Country Club Classic. Trent is currently fourth on the NGA TOUR money list and fourth in the NGA’s Race to the Reno-Tahoe Open Exemption on the PGA TOUR. With The Masters coming up, it may be a good sign that Augusta’s Kevin Faigle has Trent at the top of his list.
Justin Lower (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Augusta, GA) also made three of our experts’ lists with the Knoxville-Sentinel News’ Jesse Smithey picking him for the win. It’s hard to go wrong selecting the NGA TOUR leading money winner who has already posted a win in south Georgia this year.
The 2011 David Toms Award Winner and two-time All-Nicklaus selection out of Malone University has been on fire this year with four top-10 finishes including his Spring Hill Classic win. Justin currently leads the NGA’s Race to the Reno-Tahoe Open Exemption and will be looking to continue that momentum at Sapelo Hammock.
Rookie Will McCurdy (Auburn, Ala.) out of Auburn University made two of our experts’ cards and was listed as the top choice by the Golf Monger and host of the Myrtle Beach Golf Guys Brian Stefan to win this week.
Will is ninth on the NGA TOUR money list, eighth in the NGA’s Race to the Reno-Tahoe Open Exemption and fifth in the NGA’s Race to the BMW Charity Pro-Am Classic Exemption. Will has made all five cuts this year and is coming off his season-best, third-place finish at the Milton Martin Honda Classic.
Fellow Auburn alum Patton Kizzire (St.Simons Island, Ga.) also made two of our experts’ lists. Patton has been knocking on the door the past three events with three top 10s and a runner-up finish at the Kandy Waters Memorial Classic. He currently sits second on the NGA’s Race to the BMW Charity Pro-Am Classic Exemption and a win at the NeSmith Chevrolet Classic would possibly propel him into the lead. With his hometown of St. Simons Island so close to Shellman Bluff, our experts seem to think Patton may have a home field advantage this week and a chance to get his first NGA TOUR win.
Here are our experts’ picks for the upcoming 2013 NeSmith Chevrolet Classic at Sapelo Hammock in Shellman Bluff, Ga., (April 1 – 7), the fifth event of the 2013 Pro Series season:
1. KEVIN FAIGLE (@kevinfaiglewrdw) has been the Sports Director for WRDW TV CBS in Augusta, Georgia for seven years having covered the Masters plus numerous NGA Tour events during this time.
I was originally going to pick NGA TOUR vice president Ryan Waters, but after seeing him bundled up for the Savannah Lakes Village Classic media day, I figured I’d stick to the guys who can really swing the sticks!
(Couldn’t resist Ryan).
Hats off to everyone for everyone who’s making these tournaments possible. The big winner has been the weather, then again Mother Nature wins all the time
Picks:
TRENT WHITEKILLER (Sallisaw, Okla.; College: Oklahoma State) – Trent’s one of the hottest guys on tour who has posted five top-20 finishes already this year, including four top 10s. Impressive start to the season and a professional career for this rookie. Even on the tour’s week off, Whitekiller went and found a tournament to play in (and another top 20). It’s not if he will win, it’s when and this will be the week.
PATTON KIZZIRE (Saint Simons Island, Ga.; College: Auburn) – Patton has shown plenty of potential through the first couple of months and has cashed a check in a big way. He’s a St. Simon’s Island guy so this will be in his back yard where all the comforts of home will come into play.
Loaded with talent and its now a matter of time before he makes it to the Web.com tour.
CHRIS WOLFE (Warner Robins, Ga.; College: Armstrong Atlantic) – Another guy who played college golf at Armstrong Atlantic in near by Savannah.
He finished fourth two weeks ago so if the off week didn’t derail the momentum, he’ll be a factor this week as well.
JACK NEWMAN (Des Moines, Iowa; College: Michigan State) – I’ve picked him a few times already and he’s delivered. Its time for him to contend for a title. Seems like every tournament he’s had a couple of good rounds but has yet to put all four rounds together. This could be his trek to do just that.
MATT HENDRIX (Greenville, S.C.; College: Clemson) – Sleeper pick of the week. A veteran who’s played on all levels of golf, from the PGA Tour right on down the line. Looking for consistency is a big thing out here so this could go either way. I have a feeling he’ll be on the upswing this time.
2. BRIAN STEFAN (@GolfMonger) is host of the “Myrtle Beach Golf Guys”
on Sports Radio 100.3 The Team in Myrtle Beach. Co-owner and editor of Sports Monger on the Green blog site. Your home for all things golf. “I am a golf nut and try very hard to play to my 8-handicap as often as possible.” Some say Brian has perfected the Art of #Dufnering
Picks:
WILL MCCURDY (Auburn, Ala.; College: Auburn) – Auburn Tiger that can flat out play. This hotshot rookie finished third at the Milton Martin Honda Classic and is currently ninth on the NGA Tour money list. The
2012 NCAA All-Southeast Regional Team member has the game to make an immediate impact. I look to see his name on many leaderboards all season.
TRENT WHITEKILLER (Sallisaw, Okla.; College: Oklahoma State) – Another rookie who has been very impressive so far. He has had four top 10s already and looks very strong. He is currently fourth on the money list.
He has played 86% of his holes at par or better on the season. I’ll take that percentage any day of the week and especially on Sunday!
JUSTIN LOWER (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Augusta, Ga.; College: Malone) – He is the NGA TOUR money leader right now. He has five top 10s in six events including a win at the Spring Hill Classic. His scoring average is 71 and most importantly, he plays under par on the weekend. Get a good look at this kid because we will not see him on the NGA TOUR for very long and very well could be watching him at this year’s PGA TOUR Reno-Tahoe Open playing on the NGA’s exemption into the event.
GATOR TODD (Sea Island, Ga.; College: Alabama) – St. Simons Island, Ga., resident is playing a home game in essence. He started out playing poorly this season but has played much better the last two events as he’s starting to get comfortable out on the NGA TOUR. I always like a player that gets to play a “home game” so that is why I am picking Gator. The former Web.com tour player should have a good week and be in the hunt on Sunday.
JAMES VARGAS (Miami, Fla.; College: Florida) – Missed the cut last week at Chattahoochee. I expect this former Florida Gator and multi-time NGA TOUR winner will bounce back and have a great tournament this week. He has three top 10s on the season and could be ready to break through and get a “W” this week. Shellman Bluff could be the place for Vargas as he loves south Georgia, where he last won in 2011.
3. JESSE SMITHEY (@JesseKNS) has been covering golf for the Knoxville News Sentinel since 2006. He has covered three Masters (2006-07, 2012), a PGA Championship (2011) and the Web.com’s News Sentinel Open eight times.
Picks:
JUSTIN LOWER (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Augusta, Ga.; College: Malone) – Lower has already won once this season in Georgia, and he’s the leading money winner on the 2013 NGA TOUR money list. He finished in the top 10 at the last event at Milton Martin Honda Classic.
KENT BULLE (Glacow, Ky.; College: Middle Tennessee State) – The former Middle Tennessee State golfer possesses plenty of length of the tee, and that should benefit him at the par-72 layout with reachable par-5 at Sapelo Hammock Golf Club.
BRANDON BROWN (Shelbyville, KY; College: Eastern Kentucky) – The NGA TOUR money leader from 2011 and 2012 has yet to make a cut in two tries this season. Dude is due for a big week sooner or later. After all, he won four times on this tour in 2011 and once last season.
BRENT LONG (Carthage, Tenn.; College: Western Kentucky) – Long can muscle the ball off the tee and, like Bulle, should fare well this week in par-5 scoring. He returned home to Carthage, Tenn., this past week for some fine-tuning. Returning to your roots and always give you a little inspiration and a renewed outlook.
MAJOR MANNING (Daytona Beach, Fla.; College: Augusta State) – It’s almost Masters week, and Manning — the former Augusta State golf standout — will have his game in full bloom back in Georgia. Manning hasn’t hit the money yet this season, but he’s my gut pick to do something big at the NeSmith Chevrolet Classic.
4. JIM ELLIS (@mnrsportsguy) is the Sports Director for the Miami News-Record and was recently inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall Of Fame. Jim has over over 10 years experience covering the NGA TOUR and NGA TOUR events.
Picks:
TRENT WHITEKILLER (Sallisaw, Okla.; College: Oklahoma State) – Gotta root for a fellow Okie, but wow he’s off to a good start. Saw him play in a high school tournament here and knew he had the potential.
Hopefully he can use last weekend as a springboard to take home that first winner’s check.
PATTON KIZZIRE (Saint Simons Island, Ga.; College: Auburn) – Went with him last week as my No. 1 pick, so maybe I jinxed him. Maybe this will be “his” time.
JUSTIN LOWER (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Augusta, Ga.; College: Malone) – Current money leader could wind up padding the checkbook this week and solidify his hold on the top spot in the NGA TOUR Chase for the PGA TOUR Reno-Tahoe Open exemption. Has played solid golf all season, with a T87 at Killearn the only hiccup.
WILL MCCURDY (Auburn, Ala.; College: Auburn) – Will slipped a little during his second round at Chattahoochee, but hopefully he will continue his solid play over his last three tournaments.
RILEY WHEELDON (Comox, British Columbia; College: Louisville) – He has the potential to become the first two-time winner this season. However, Lower is the only one of the season’s five winners to have a top 5 finish the week after notching a victory. Wheeldon will be looking to top that and solidy his place for the NGA TOUR exemption into the Web.com