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**truebluefan** · 05-05-2008, 04:44 PM

Fox Den CC, Knoxville, Tennessee
Purse: $500,000

**truebluefan** · 06-20-2008, 08:47 AM

Arjun Atwal, Jarrod Lyle and Chris Kirk are tied for the lead with 6-under 66s after the opening round of the Knoxville Open presented by Food City at Fox Den Country Club.

D.J. Brigman from New Mexico, Indiana's Chris Smith, Texan Kelly Grunewald, Argentinian Sebastian Fernandez and Californian Jeff Brehaut are tied for fourth with 5-under 67s, a shot further back.

"I guess we're back to the normal kind of golf after the circus last week," said Lyle, who tied for 48th at last week's U.S. Open. "Last week showed me I have got the game to play majors, not contend just yet, but make cuts and get my name up there a little bit more.

"I'm still really tired after last week," added Lyle, who has four top-10 finishes this year, including a victory at the Mexico Open. "It's amazing how much it takes out of you. I had never played a U.S. Open before, but your mind has to be so sharp. If you miss a two-footer, you may have a 10-footer coming back."

Atwal enjoyed two weeks off before arriving in Knoxville. "I sat on my couch, played with my kids and spent time with my family," he said. Atwal, the first native of India to win on the European Tour, started on the back nine and closed his round with three consecutive birdies.

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**truebluefan** · 06-20-2008, 08:47 AM

The Knoxville Open presented by Food City is the 15th of 30 Nationwide Tour events in 2008. As the Tour reaches the halfway point it's a logical time to look at who is in the running for THE 25. David Mathis sits atop the money list trailed closely by No. 2 Jeff Klauk and No. 3 Darron Stiles. Three Australians, Greg Chalmers/4th, Jarrod Lyle/6th and Ewan Porter/9th are among the current top-nine money winners, with another Aussie, Aron Price, at 11. The international contingent also includes England's Greg Owen/7th, Canadian Bryan DeCorso/10th, Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge/17th and India's Arjun Atwal/18th. Familiar names from the college and amateur ranks are within THE 25 including Colt Knost/12th, Casey Wittenberg/13th, Matt Every/16th, Matt Weibring/19th and Ricky Barnes/23rd. Currently D.J. Brigman occupies the bubble spot of No. 25 on the money list. Among those players on the outside looking in are Bob May/27th, Daniel Summerhays/31st, Bryce Molder/33rd, Bubba Dickerson/34th and Esteban Toledo/37th. At season's end the top-25 money winners will earn PGA TOUR cards for 2009. There have been 14 different winners in 14 events to date, nine of which have been one-shot or playoff victories.

EIGHT U.S. OPEN CONTESTANTS IN FIELD -- Eight active Nationwide Tour players who played in last week's U.S. Open are scheduled to be in Knoxville this week. Five made the cut -- Justin Hicks/T74, Chris Kirk/T78, Ian Leggatt/T74, Jarrod Lyle/T48 and D.A. Points/T69. D.J. Brigman Scott Piercy and Peter Tomasulo did not play on the weekend.

ROOKIE CHRIS KIRK A NATIVE OF KNOXVILLE -- Nationwide Tour rookie Chris Kirk was born in Knoxville. He went on to enjoy a terrific career at the University of Georgia where he was a first-team All-American in his junior and senior seasons. After a good start in New Zealand (T15) and Australia (T26), the conditionally-exempt Kirk has only played in four other Nationwide Tour events and missed the cut in every one. Not being able to set one's schedule is always a challenge, particularly for the young players looking to make their mark. Kirk qualified for last week's U.S. Open and played all four rounds (T78). Perhaps Knoxville will be the start of good things for the current resident of St. Simons Island, Ga., who has so much promise.

HUNTER HAAS WITHDRAWS -- Hunter Haas, a two-time winner of the Knoxville Open, has withdrawn from the event. No reason was available prior to distribution of "Storylines". Haas was a Sectional Qualifying medalist for last week's U.S. Open. He recorded 80-70 -- 150 to miss the cut at Torrey Pines by a shot. Haas won at Fox Den CC in 2004 and 2006. Editor's Note: Haas has no relation to Jay and Bill Haas.

KNOXVILLE / ONE OF THE ORIGINAL TOURNAMENTS -- Knoxville is one of four cities which have held a Nationwide Tour event every year since the Tour was born in 1990. Knoxville is joined by Springfield, Mo., Wichita, Kan., and Boise, Idaho.

NEW ENGLAND NATIVE FRAN QUINN PLAYS HIS WAY INTO HARTFORD -- Massachusetts native (Holden, Mass.) Fran Quinn posted the lowest score (66) in Monday's qualifier for this week's PGA TOUR event in Hartford, Conn. Quinn, a Nationwide Tour regular, told the Hartford Courant he planned to take a week off before heading to next week's event in Canada but "couldn't pass up the opportunity to wheel it" in Hartford as he's played the event a few times in the past. Quinn is 41st on the Nationwide Tour money list after nine starts.

THIS WEEK IN NATIONWIDE TOUR HISTORY -- On June 18, 2000 Deane Pappas wins the rain-delayed Greater Cleveland Open by one shot over countryman Tjaart van der Walt to become the first South African-born player to win on the Nationwide Tour. Two other South Africans have gone on to win Nationwide Tour events, Tim Clark and Pappas' brother Brenden. They both won two events.

NEXT WEEK -- The Nationwide Tour crosses the border into Canada next week for the inaugural Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic. The tournament will feature a unique format of 160 professionals and 160 celebrities/amateurs. Among the many celebrities from the sports and entertainment field expected to be at The Georgian Bay and Raven Golf Club in Thornbury, Ontario are host Wayne Gretzky's former Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers' teammates Mark Messier, Paul Coffey, Marty McSorley and Grant Fuhr. The pros will be competing for the third-largest purse on Tour, $800,099. Golf Channel will air all four rounds.

**truebluefan** · 06-21-2008, 08:59 PM

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Albuquerque's D.J. Brigman took advantage of perfect conditions Friday morning, shooting an 8-under 64 to take the lead at the Knoxville Open presented by Food City. Brigman finished the day at 13-under-par 131.

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**truebluefan** · 06-22-2008, 08:33 PM

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- On the longest day of the year, and the first full day of summer, the third round of the Knoxville Open presented by Food City was completed early due to the possibility of thunderstorms.

The storms didn't arrive but Jarrod Lyle, the Mexico Open winner earlier this year, stormed to the lead with a 5-under 67 and a 16-under-par total. Lyle is one ahead of D.J. Brigman who birdied the last hole and shot 70.

Chris Kirk, Doug Barron and Thomas Hagler IV are tied for third at 14 under. Seven players are tied for sixth.

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**truebluefan** · 06-22-2008, 08:34 PM

KNOXVILE, Tenn. -- After 14 different winners from 14 tournaments this year, the Nationwide Tour has its first dual winner at the halfway point of the season.

Jarrod Lyle defeated Chris Kirk with a birdie at the first playoff hole to claim the Knoxville Open Sunday as his second title of the season after both players finished at 19-under-par 269. Lyle, who won the Mexico Open earlier this year, shot 66-67-67-69, and the $90,000 check jumped him to first on the money list with $281,939.

D.J. Brigman birdied the last hole to tie for third with Kyle Reifers, two shots back at 17 under. Brigman jumped from 25th to 17th on the money list while Reifers improved his position to 41st. Chris Smith and Doug Barron tied for fifth.

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