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The Nationwide Tour resumes tournament play next week (Sept. 3-9) at the Utah EnergySolutions Championship near Salt Lake City, Utah. Last year,

Craig Kanada began his run to his 2007 PGA TOUR card with the first of two late-season wins in Utah.

While idle this week, Nationwide Tour players will get some rest to prepare for the all-important final eight events and have a chance to follow their friends on the PGA TOUR in the FedExCup.

Tracking the Nationwide Tour grads

Boo Weekley

Of the 22 Nationwide Tour players who graduated to the PGA TOUR this year, 16 qualified for the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, with No. 9 seed Brandt Snedeker leading the way.

After the first of four Playoff events, The Barclays at Westchester Country Club in Rye, N.Y., nine advanced to Boston this week where they continue in pursuit of $35 million in bonus money and the $10 million Cup winner's prize.

Doug LaBelle II had perhaps the most nerve-wracking week.

A 72nd-hole birdie allowed him to finish T41 and survive The Barclays cut that came at 120, the number he started and finished the week on.

West Virginia winner Walker has his share of highs and lows

The 2004 Nationwide Tour Player of the Year was excited to be headed to the PGA TOUR in 2005 only to be derailed before he teed up his first ball.

Jimmy Walker

Walker injured his neck on the driving range at the Sony Open in Hawaii, forcing his withdrawal. It led to a two-year struggle which saw the San Antonio resident finish 207th and 202nd, respectively, on the PGA TOUR money list in '05 and '06.

"I went from the highest of highs when I won Player of the Year to the lowest of lows," Walker said on Sunday. "It feels so good to see the hard work paying off. I kept telling myself it was going to pay off eventually. It has been tough on me and my family since I got hurt and this win is for all of them.

"Winning is so important for all of us on so many levels....It also feels good to be back in that top 25 and that is the most important thing on the Nationwide Tour."

Walker leapt from No. 62 and trying to get into the Nationwide Tour Championship at Barona Creek to No. 16 on the money list and a fairly comfortable spot inside THE 25.

Rough week for top three on Nationwdie Tour money list

Roland Thatcher

Collectively, it wasn't a great week for the three players who sit atop the Nationwide Tour money list.

No. 1 Roland Thatcher missed his first cut since the BMW Charity Pro-Am in May, a stretch of 12 tournaments.

The euphoria of earning his PGA TOUR card apparently caught up to No. 2 Nick Flanagan, who also missed the cut in West Virginia.

And No. 3 Jason Day was felled by the flu and forced to withdraw prior to the start of the second round. The trio maintained their 1-2-3 standing.

Big week for West Virginia runner-up Aussie Matt Jones

National Mining Association Pete Dye Classic runner-up Matt Jones finds himself back inside THE 25. It was the 27-year-old Australian's second runner-up finish of 2007 (South Georgia Classic/April). He had drifted from 11th on the money list after that week's performance to 30th. The former Arizona State All-American is one spot behind Jimmy Walker at No. 17 with $174,943.

Nick Flanagan: Humble and grateful after earning TOUR card

Nick Flanagan

Nick Flanagan in his pre-tournament interview last week:

"I still don't consider myself better than half of the players on this Tour (Nationwide Tour). The only difference is that I've gotten lucky this year. I also realize I'll be seeing most of them soon on the PGA TOUR."

He went on to say, "The Nationwide Tour has taught me so much about how to succeed as a professional golfer. It has made me a better player mentally....It has taught me about scheduling and how to keep myself fresh throughout the season. I'm still only 23, but my head has gotten a lot more mature as a result of my time on this Tour."

Flanagan's very own Tiger effect

"I remember watching him (Tiger Woods) on television for the first time at the 1997 Masters," said Flanagan. "I admired him like everyone else. For a long time I viewed golf as a bunch of 40-year-olds who wore funny looking pants. But Tiger made me look at the sport differently. I played nine holes with him in a practice round at the Masters in 2004. All I remember is I hit the ball pretty well but couldn't make any putts."

The '25' update: Kimbell in need of a few good weeks

John Kimbell

South Georgia Classic winner John Kimbell is one player who is really in need of a good week. When the Lafayette, Ga.resident won the sixth event of the year in April, he was second on the money list.

Since the Valdosta event, he has drifted down the money list and this week occupies the precarious No. 25 position. Kimbell withdrew from the recent Xerox Classic and was not entered in West Virginia.

Only $390 separates No. 24 Jon Mills of Canada and No. 26 Richard Johnson of Wales. University of South Carolina grad Kyle Thompson rejoined THE 25 (from No. 26 to 23) thanks to his T7 finish in West Virginia.

Fujikawa headed to Boise this fall, joins solid field

Tadd Fujikawa, the youthful Hawaiian who turned professional on July 12th, has accepted a Sponsor Invitation to play in next month's Albertsons Boise Open.

Fujikawa made his professional debut earlier this month at the PGA TOUR's Reno-Tahoe Open. Despite missing the cut, he birdied five of the last ten holes he played. He will join select Nationwide Tour players in hosting a Tuesday clinic designed to introduce young people to the game.

Did you know?

Kris Blanks leads the Nationwide Tour Scoring Average category. His 69.43 average is more than one-half shot (.53) better than No. 2 Jason Day. What's particularly interesting about Blanks is he has been a Monday qualifier all year. His T12 finish on Sunday pushed him to $83,800 in earnings, which gives him Special Temporary membership on the Tour.

The 34-year-old from Rincon, Ga., is currently 54th on the money list, which puts him inside the top 60, the cutoff number to make the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship at Barona Creek outside San Diego in early November. He has made six cuts in nine starts, with all six being T25 or better.