Power Rankings: News Sentinel Open

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The long stretch of tournaments on the Nationwide Tour is almost over.

In the seventh-straight week of play, the Tour moves to the Knoxville, Tenn. area for the News Sentinel Open Presented by Pilot.

Yet another player notched his first career Nationwide Tour win on Sunday as Australian James Nitties, who spent the last two seasons on the PGA TOUR, shot a 6 under 65 to win by five shots.

Nitties moved from No. 63 to No. 12 on the money list with his victory on Sunday.

"There's still a lot of golf left to play this season," he said, "but this puts me in good position to get back to the (PGA) TOUR."

With the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup beginning, some PGA TOUR players who didn't qualify will be teeing it up on the Nationwide Tour. Among those expected to play are Boo Weekley, Kirk Triplett and John Daly.

The $500,000 tournament, which was won by Chris Kirk last year, will be at the Fox Den Country Club in Farragut, Tenn. with $90,000 going to the winner.

Power Rankings: News Sentinel Open Presented by Pilot

Rank   Player Comment J.J. KILLEEN He quietly tied for fourth Sunday and overtook Mathew Goggin for the lead in the race for the money title. Killeen needs one more victory to earn a promotion to the PGA TOUR. His putting has been outstanding and he ranks second in putts per round on Tour. Mathew GOGGIN Is rested and ready to go again. He has two victories, but is now second on the money list. Since his second win in mid-June he missed a cut, but then rebounded with a tie for sixth and a tie for 21st. Jonas BLIXT The former Florida State player has gotten into a grove of late with a tie for second in two of his last three tournaments. On Saturday he shot a 62 and then he followed up with a 66 on Sunday. He's warming up here late in the summer, which is a good time to do it. Kyle REIFERS One of his college teammates at Wake Forest, Webb Simpson, won his first PGA TOUR tournament on Sunday at the Wyndham Championship. Reifers had a week off, but has made five straight cuts and should be inspired after seeing what Simpson did. Kirk TRIPLETT Its tempting to put John Daly or Boo Weakley into the rankings but Triplett tied for third in last year's tournament in Tennessee. He's played in seven PGA TOUR tournaments this season and four times on the Nationwide Tour making all four cuts.

John Dell has covered golf for the Winston-Salem Journal in North Carolina for the last 17 years. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR. You can reach him at johndell@triad.rr.com.