Knoxville, Tennessee – August 31, 2010 – Chris Kirk spent much of the 2009 season on the eGolf Professional Tour before finally securing Nationwide Tour status at PGA TOUR Q-School in the fall of last year. One of the most highly touted college players in recent memory, Kirk was forced to earn his way towards golf's big show. On the 2010 Nationwide Tour, he has more than earned the respect of all en route to securing his 2011 PGA TOUR card.

Kirk, the 2007 Ben Hogan Award Winner while at the University of Georgia, entered the Knoxville News Sentinel Open at No. 4 on the Nationwide Tour money list following a win at the Fort Smith Classic in June. Opening rounds of 68-70 allowed the Knoxville native to make the cut by four shots, but it was a third-round 63 that vaulted him into tournament contention.

Kirk's Saturday round of 63 was highlighted by a birdie-eagle-birdie finish and a closing nine of 5-under 31. With a 15-under total through three rounds, he secured a one-shot lead over three-time PGA TOUR winner Kirk Triplett heading into Sunday's final round.

An opening nine of even-par 36 pushed Kirk down the final-round leaderboard and into a tie with Travis Bertoni on Sunday, but a late surge featuring birdies on 17 and 18 allowed him to close with a 5-under 31 to seal the win and the $90,000 first-place prize.

"It can't get any better than this," said Kirk afterwards. "My wife flew in last night and for her to be here, with so many of my family members, it's just tremendous."

The win moved Kirk from No. 4 to No. 1 on the Nationwide Tour money list, and he in turn became the first player to eclipse the $400K mark in earnings this year.

"This win was a lot harder than the first one," he said. "In Fort Smith I was felt like I could have made every putt one-handed if I wanted to. This one was tough. I had to work for this one and it was a lot more rewarding in that respect."

Kirk's win was assisted by a poor 6-iron approach from Travis Bertoni at the 72nd hole, as his approach to the par-5 found the pond fronting the green. The ensuing par left Bertoni at 18-under 270, two shots behind Kirk, who finished at 20-under 268.

Two-time eGolf Tour Championship winner Matt Davidson posted a final-round 64 to move up 11 spots on Sunday and clinch a T3 finish on the week. Davidson, who entered the season with conditional Nationwide Tour status, has now recorded back-to-back top-5 finishes dating back to a T4 effort at the Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open in early August.

The former PGA TOUR player and Furman University standout now has three top-10 finishes in just seven starts this season. His T3 finish in Knoxville, and accompanying $29,000 payday, moved Davidson from No. 81 to No. 61 on the money list and put him square into the mix of the tour's top 25. At the conclusion of the season, the top 25 players on the Nationwide Tour money list will earn their 2011 PGA TOUR cards.

Scotland's Russell Knox, who claimed the largest check of his professional career with a win at the eGolf Tour's season-opening Palmetto Hall Championship in February, posted a T7 finish in Knoxville following rounds of 68-70-70-66—274. Making just his second career start on the Nationwide Tour, Knox recorded a mere four bogeys through 72 holes of play.

Peter MalnatiIn Sunday's final round, Knox quickly threatened the leaders with six birdies in his first 10 holes to move to 14-under for the event. His torrid pace would cool dramatically, however, as his day closed with eight consecutive pars. Regardless, his top-25 finish was enough to put him in the field for this week's Mylan Classic presented by CONSOL Energy.

One of the week's best stories came from 2010 eGolf Tour member Peter Malnati of Dandridge, TN. A former University of Missouri golfer, Malnati managed to successfully Monday qualify his way into the event with a 5-under 67 at Toqua Golf Club on Monday of tournament week. Once in, the easy-going Malnati took full advantage of his opportunity in his first career Nationwide Tour start.

Opening rounds of 70-69 allowed him to easily make the 36-hole cut. Once through to the weekend, Malnati's steady play went into roller coaster mode with three eagles, seven birdies, four bogeys and a double-bogey over the final two rounds. The highlight of his weakened likely came at the par-4 ninth and the par-5 10th during Saturday's third round, when he recorded back-to-back eagles. Closing rounds of 70-67 pushed Malnati into a tie for 16th – up 19 spots in the final round – and into this week's event in Canonsburg, PA.

Other eGolf Tour players to make it to the weekend in Knoxville include Adam Meyer (T16), Aron Price (T16), Rob Oppenheim (T16), William McGirt (T26), Tommy Gainey (T26), Cameron Tringale (T29), Daniel Summerhays (T29), Casey Wittenberg (T33), Jin Park (T33), Scott Stallings (T42), Justin Peters (T47), Fernando Mechereffe (T52), Kevin Kisner (T54), Stephen Poole (60) and Luke List (T61). For complete results from the Knoxville News Sentinel Open on pgatour.com, please click here.

• The PGA TOUR kicked off the annual FedExCup Playoffs at The Barclays over the weekend, with five eGolf Tour players advancing through to this week's Deutsche Bank Championship. Brendon de Jonge (No. 37), Steve Marino (No. 78), Kris Blanks (No. 91), Tom Gillis (No. 92) and Blake Adams (No. 98) will all compete in Norton, MA at the challenging TPC Boston for the right to advance through to the BMW Championship, and possibly the TOUR Championship. The top 70 players and ties on the FedExCup points list following the conclusion of the Deutsche Bank Championship will advance on to the BMW Championship.