Nitties defends Midwest Classic title

James Nitties this week defends a title he won on the Nationwide Tour last year when he plays the Midwest Classic at the Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate in Overland Park in Kansas. Nitties Newcastle colleague Nick Flanagan finished second in the event also last year and with both players showing improved form in recent starts they may well feature once again. Nitties recorded his best finish of the season last week in Missouri and Flanagan started that same event well before fading over the weekend. The tournament is missing the leading two players on this year s money list with Casey Wittenberg taking a rest and Ben Kohles playing the PGA Tour event in Greensboro. Luke Guthrie who appears to be a young man with a great future in the professional game is perhaps the favourite having finished 2nd, 3rd and 10th in his three career starts on the Web.Com Tour. Guthrie also finished 5th at the John Deere Classic. Guthrie only turned professional this year but like Kohles is already making his mark in the professional ranks. Eight other Australasians in the field other than Nitties and Flanagan and are headed by the leading Australasian money winner in 2011 Cameron Percy who is currently 10th on the money list.