NEWS
 
Axley, Isenhour just two names to headline Rex Hospital field
May 31, 2006
 

By Maureen Callaghan
PGA TOUR staff

After a break for Memorial Day, the Nationwide Tour returns to action this week in Raleigh, N.C., for The Rex Hospital Open.

Hosting the $450,000 event for the sixth consecutive year is the TPC Wakefield Plantation, a private club in the PGA TOUR’s Tournament Players Club network. Designed by three-time U.S. Open champion, Hale Irwin, the par-71 course is built on 217 pristine acres of the Neuse River Basin northern Raleigh.

Rex Hospital will again serve as title sponsor for the Nationwide Tour’s 13th annual stop in the region. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the hospital’s community outreach initiatives, including education and early detection programs. Headlining this week’s field is 2005 winner Eric Axley, who’s looking to make history this week by becoming the first Nationwide Tour player to successfully defend a title. After Monday qualifying into last year's event, Axley edged ahead of Troy Matteson in the final round to grab the win at 14 under. The $81,000 first-place check propelled Axley onto the scene and was instrumental in helping him earn his 2006 PGA TOUR card at the end of the season.

One player who could prove to be stiff competition for Axley is current Tour money leader Tripp Isenhour. The North Carolina native will return to his roots in hopes of capturing a third title of the season which would send him straight to the PGA TOUR in record-breaking time. Also in the field is University of North Carolina grad, Tom Scherrer. The former Tar Heel standout has one PGA TOUR win under his belt from the 2000 Kemper Insurance Open and finished 22nd on last year’s Nationwide Tour money list.

A total of 15 former PGA TOUR winners will be competing in Raleigh this week, including Blaine McCallister, Notah Begay III and Garrett Willis.

The Nationwide Tour hits Glenview, Ill., next week with for the largest purse of the season at the $750,000 LaSalle Bank Open. The Golf Channel will be on hand to offer exclusive coverage of the big money action from The Glen Club.