Tracking 'THE 25': Following Chattanooga Classic

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This is a very big week on the Nationwide Tour. The Miccosukee Championship in Miami, Fla. is the final full-field event of the year. The top-60 money winners after Sunday's play will be guaranteed a spot in the Nationwide Tour Championship at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, TX (Nov. 6-9). The top-25 money winners at the conclusion of the Nationwide Tour Championship will receive their PGA TOUR cards for 2009. All others (Nos. 26-60) will ensure their fully-exempt status on the Nationwide Tour next year.

Sunday's Chattanooga Classic winner Arjun Atwal made the big move of the week jumping from 34th to 15th. Ricky Barnes got off the No. 25 bubble after two weeks, improving four spots to No. 21 thanks to a T6 finish. David Branshaw dropped one position and inherited Barnes' bubble spot. A missed cut moved Ryan Hietala out of "The 25", from 23rd to 26th. Last week's No. 30 D.J. Brigman fell one spot.

$1 Million Nationwide Tour Championship at TPC Craig Ranch (Nov. 6-9)
Only the top 60 get into the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship. David Hearn of Canada heads to Miami sitting on No. 60, having dropped two spots from No. 58 last week. He has a $3,151 advantage over No. 61 Gary Christian of England and Auburn University. Chad Ginn of Mississippi trails Christian by only $153. With its $1 million purse and $180,000 first prize, every player who makes it to Craig Ranch in two weeks has a mathematical chance of playing his way into "The 25". Those who finish the season between 26 and 60 on the final money list are fully exempt on the Nationwide Tour in 2009.