News >> Flanagan Takes Henrico County Open
Former Hooters Tour Member Earns First Nationwide Victory
Glen Allen, VA (April 29, 2007)…Another week on the Nationwide Tour another victory by a former Hooters Tour member. Australian Nick Flanagan captured his first Nationwide Tour victory Sunday at The Henrico County Open.
Flanagan, the 2003 US Amateur champion, carded rounds of 70-66-69-70 for a four day total of thirteen-under par 275 and a spot in a four-way playoff with Chris Baryla, Roland Thatcher and Bryn Parry. Thatcher and Parry were eliminated on the first playoff hole and when Flanagan tapped in his birdie putt on third playoff hole he eliminated Baryla for his first title.
"I'm very happy to perform well under pressure," said Flanagan. "One of my goals this year was to win early.
"I've come close a couple of times, but this was definitely my best opportunity," he added. "I think I always knew it was going to happen; it was just a matter of when. To do it in my second year on Tour is awesome."
With the victory Flanagan’s $81,000 first-place check moves him into the top 25 with $112,077. Currently eighth on the money list, Flanagan finally has the PGA TOUR in his sights.
"I'm just trying to get to the PGA TOUR and I've found that it is not an easy thing to do," said Flanagan. "But this definitely helps the cause. I've been taking baby steps ... and the Nationwide Tour has helped me get my game to the level it needs to be to compete on the PGA TOUR."
In one season on the Hooters Tour Flanagan collected two runner-up finishes and four top ten’s. In his eight starts during the 2005 season, Flanagan earned more than $26,800 in earnings.
The NGA/Hooters Tour is the 3rd largest men’s 72-hole professional golf tour in the country behind the PGA and Nationwide Tours, and boasts alumni like 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson, 2003 PGA champion Shaun Micheel, 2003 British Open champion Ben Curtis, 2003 US Open champion Jim Furyk, British Open and PGA champion John Daly, two-time US Open winner Lee Janzen, British Open champion Tom Lehman, as well as PGA champion David Toms, Tour Championship winner Chad Campbell and back to back Reno Tahoe Open winner Vaughn Taylor to name just a few. All told, the NGA/Hooters Tour alumni have an incredible nine Majors to their credit. The NGA Hooters Tour has helped more than 100 golf professionals acquire their PGA, Nationwide and Champion’s Tour card. In fact, 34% of the players that earned their 2006 PGA Tour cards, and 43% of the players that earned full exempt status on the Nationwide Tour started their careers on the NGA Hooters Tour.
For more information about the NGA Hooters Tour, please check out our website at www.hooterstour.com or contact the Tour office toll free at 800-992-8748.
