Price Cutter Charity Championship

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The Web.com Tour heads to Springfield, Mo. this week for the Price Cutter Charity Championship where Highland Springs Country Club will host this event for the 21st time. One thing that is definitely worth highlighting when examining past results is the fact that low scores can, and will, be expected at Highland Springs. Looking back to 2003, no score has been worse than -21 so one of the keys to finding a winner this week will be searching for someone who ranks highly in the birdie stats.

Reading over the layout and description it is also worth noting that the course makes use of a variety of trees, ensuring a premium on accuracy, as does the fact that if players veer too far off the hole they will be greeted with a rough mixture of fescue, bluegrass, rye grass, or one of over seventy sand and grass bunkers. Add to this the water hazards that feature on seven of the eighteen holes and we will definately be placing a large focus on accuracy this week.

The course plays to a maximum 7,038 yards and with the tricky rough (as mentioned above) and the length, I shall also be looking at a good ball striker and someone who could scramble should they find themselves in the long stuff.

My picks are as follows.

Nicholas Thompson - Although winless this year so far, Thompson's form is by far nasty to read, with five top tens, four of which have come in his last four appearances. What strikes me when looking at his stats is that the 29 year old sits 1st in ball striking on the Web.com Tour and 1st in total driving, highlighting both his length and accuracy off the tee that will be essential this week. He's 10th in GIR, a respectable 64th in birdie or better average and to top it off has four rounds under par in his first and only outing here last year, finishing 13th. 0.5pts e/w @ 50/1 Various

Michael Letzig - Im going slightly against my own stat profile for this week in backing Letzig but I feel that the fact that he is born and raised in Missouri more than makes up for it. He hasnt exactly set the tour on fire this year, his best finish being 3rd at the Soboba Classic and has a host of disappointing missed cuts. However, I'm taking the chance on him as being a local and familiar with the course he should raise his game and previous results here seem to highlight him as a 'horses for courses' sort of player with a 5th and a 4th here (the 4th coming last year). 0.25pts e/w @ 80/1 Various

Paul Claxton - Seasoned pro Claxton ticks a few boxes for me this week both statistically and in terms of form. First off lets look at his stats, 19th in GIR, 32nd in DA, 10th in scrambling and 48th in ball striking, pretty impressive in itself. However, what stands out to me most is his 8th ranking in scoring average of 69.85 which will undoubtably be a huge asset on a par 72 course. In terms of form, Paul arrives here for the 12th year, boasting no worse than a 26th placed finish in the five cuts he has made and most notably, a 3rd place last year. He has no real recent stand out form to speak of but it is worth noting that at the start of the season his two top five finishes were on courses where 'going low' was important. 0.5pts e/w @ 100/1 Paddy Power

Scott Parel - Veteran Parel should be suited to the course this week being ranked 6th in ball striking, 9th in scrambling, 7th in total birdies, 21st in GIR and 24th in scoring average. The 47 year old is not short off the tee either, averaging a distance of nearly 298 yards which will also help this week. In terms of form, Parel's results arent outstanding, but he has only missed three cuts from sixteen appearances and can bost a 2nd place at the Rex Hospital Open. He does have course form here at Highland Springs, boasting a 7th in 2007 and a 15th the year before but worryingly has missed the cut the last three times he has played here. Im willing to ignore the recent blip in Missouri he has suffered and back him on his solid set of stats this year. 0.25pts e/w @ 100/1 Various

Total Staked - 3pts