Most of 'THE 25' to make PGA TOUR debut at Sony Open in Hawaii

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Twenty-four members of the 2007 Nationwide Tour class of 25 graduates are set to travel to Hawaii to make their first 2008 PGA TOUR start at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Every player who finished among the top 25 on the final 2007 Nationwide Tour money list, except No. 1 Richard Johnson of Wales, is entered in the tournament that will be played at Waialae Country Club for the 43rd consecutive year. The following list features the players and their hometowns (with 2007 Nationwide Tour wins in parenthesis):

Roland Thatcher had two wins last year on the Nationwide Tour. (WireImage)

• 2 - Roland Thatcher -- The Woodlands, Texas (2 wins)
• 3 - Nick Flanagan -- New South Wales, Australia (3 wins/PGA TOUR promotion last August)
• 4 - Jon Mills -- Oshawa, Ontario, Canada & Indiana, Penn. (1 win)
• 5 - Jason Day -- Forest Lake, Queensland, Australia & Orlando, Fla. (1 win;youngest PGA TOUR member at 19 years and two months)
• 6 - Nicholas Thompson -- Coral Springs, Fla. (1 win)
• 7 - Matthew Jones -- Sydney, Australia & Scottsdale, Ariz. (4 runners-up)
• 8 - Justin Bolli -- Duluth, Ga. (1 win)
• 9 - Patrick Sheehan -- Orlando, Fla.
• 10 - Paul Claxton -- Sea Island, Ga. (1 win)
• 11 - Ron Whittaker -- Little Rock, Ark. (1 win)
• 12 - Michael Letzig -- Richmond, Mo.
• 13 - Martin Laird -- Glasgow, Scotland (1 win)
• 14 - Kyle Thompson -- Columbia, S.C. (2 wins)
• 15 - Omar Uresti -- Austin, Texas (1 win)
• 16 - Marc Turnesa -- Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (1 win)
• 17 - Brad Elder -- Dallas, Texas (1 win)
• 18 - Chez Reavie -- Scottsdale, Ariz. (1 win)
• 19 - John Riegger -- Las Vegas, Nev. (1 win)
• 20 - Tom Scherrer -- Raleigh, N.C. (1 win)
• 21 - Scott Sterling -- Baton Rouge, La. (1 win)
• 22 - Brenden Pappas -- Phalaborwa, South Africa & Ocala, Fla.
• 23 - Chad Collins -- Cloverdale, Ind.
• 24 - James Driscoll -- Brookline, Mass.
• 25 - Jimmy Walker -- San Antonio, Texas (1 win)

"The 25 players who are moving on to the PGA TOUR from the Nationwide Tour combine a great deal of talent with a strong international flavor, not unlike what you already see on the PGA TOUR," said Nationwide Tour President Bill Calfee. "We anticipate seeing them on a lot of leaderboards throughout the year and one of them soon adding to the 217-PGA TOUR win total Nationwide Tour alumni currently enjoy, with others to follow."

Johnson, the only player not entered, is expected to make his first 2008 start the week after the Sony Open at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Five past champions of the Sony Open in Hawaii have Nationwide Tour roots -- Jim Furyk ('96), Jerry Kelly ('02), Ernie Els ('03, '04), David Toms ('06) and defending champion Paul Goydos.

The 2008 Nationwide Tour season will begin Jan. 24-27 at the Panama Movistar Championship in Panama City, Panama and then head to Morelia, Mexico for the 50th playing of the Mexico Open presented by Corona, Jan. 31 -- Feb 3.

The Nationwide Tour will feature 30 tournaments in 22 states and five countries outside the U.S. in 2008, including its first two $1 million events -- the Nationwide Tour Players Cup in West Virginia and the Nationwide Tour Championship at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, near Dallas. Sixteen events will be televised on GOLF CHANNEL.