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Lincoln -- Former Nebraska golfer Scott Gutschewski continued his torrid stretch of golf this past week by capturing the Nationwide Tour's Monterey Peninsula Classic on Sunday in Seaside, Calif.
Gutschewski entered the final round with a four-stroke advantage and his lead was never seriously threatened on Sunday. The Ralston native's four-round total of 12-under par 276 broke the tournament scoring record and was good four a four-shot victory over three other golfers, including Zach Johnson, the tour's 2003 money earnings leader.
The victory was good for $81,000, easily the largest paycheck of Gutschewski's professional career. The Nationwide Tour rookie has now earned $146,674 in just eight events since receiving a sponsor's exemption for the Omaha Classic in August. Gutschewski, who has made the cut in seven of eight Nationwide events he has played, rose from 61st to 23rd on the money list with his victory.
Gutschewski's victory also made earning a spot on the PGA Tour in 2004 a distinct possibility. The top 20 players on the Nationwide money list at the conclusion of the 2003 season receive playing privileges on the PGA Tour next year. Gutschewski is already guaranteed of appearing at least one PGA event next winter. His victory in Monterey earned him a trip back to the area in February for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links.
The 26-year-old Gutschewski played most of the year on the Tight Lies Tour, but has looked more than comfortable on the Nationwide Tour for the past two months.
'I thought I could win out here,'Gutschewski told PGATour.com. 'You always think you can win and know you can win, but doing it is a whole different animal. There are no tricks to this golf course. It's right there in front of you. I don't know what it was, but me and the course got along pretty good this week.'
Gutschewski played at Nebraska from 1997 to 1999 and he was part of Nebraska's best team in school history in 1999. The Huskers finished 14th at the NCAA Championships that season and had a runner-up finish at the Big 12 Championships.
Gutschewski is entered in the field for this week's Gila River Classic in Chandler, Ariz., one of four remaining events on the Nationwide Tour. The season concludes with the Nationwide Tour Championship from Oct. 30-Nov. 2 in Prattville, Ala.