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By Adam Wallace
PGA TOUR staff

CONGRATULATIONS, RICHARD JOHNSON -- It was bound to happen sooner or later. Wales' Richard Johnson had played in the final group four times this year without pulling off a victory. He made sure it didn't happen again on Sunday despite an opening-hole double bogey. Four consecutive birdes on the back nine (13-16) and another birdie on the extra hole with Jeremy Anderson and Matthew Jones put the 35-year-old former Augusta State University All-American in the Nationwide Tour winner's circle for the third time. Now fourth on the money list, Johnson is already assured he will spend 2008 on the PGA TOUR. "Everyone has a lifetime dream of playing on the PGA TOUR and I can't wait to fulfill mine next year," he said.

It was going to happen sooner or later. On Sunday, Richard Johnson picked up his first win of 2007. (Rogash/WireImage)

MATTHEW JONES/THE HOTTEST MAN ON TOUR -- There is no question Matthew Jones is the hottest player on Tour. Sunday's playoff defeat was the Australian's third runner-up (fourth of the year) in his last five starts and second playoff set back in the last three. Since the National Mining Association Pete Dye Classic in West Virginia, the former Arizona State All-American has a tie for second, tie for 30th, tie for second, tie for fifth and a tie for second. He has gone from 30th on the money list to seventh, making the 27-year-old the highest-ranked player on Tour this year without a win. He has missed only two cuts since April after starting the season with four in his first six starts. "I know I'm going to win at some point because I'm playing so well, " Jones said. In three starts at Midland Country Club, Jones has not missed the cut. He finished tied for sixth last year. Perhaps this is the week, in his 92nd Tour start, Jones captures that elusive first win.

MILLS AND BARNES REACH 10 STRAIGHT -- With a pair of tie for ninth finishes, Jon Mills and Ricky Barnes both extended their cuts-made streak to 10 in the Mark Christopher Charity Classic. Mills, coming off his win in Boise, led after two rounds, but succumbed to Saturday's stiff winds. He dropped one spot to sixth on the money list. The Canadian has finished 16th or better in his last six starts. At No. 67, Barnes is 12 spots closer to qualifying for the Nationwide Tour Championship at Barona Creek thanks to his first top 10 of the year.

THE 25 UPDATE -- It was a relatively quiet week in terms of movement among THE 25 with positions 16 through 24 remaining unchanged. South African and University of Arkansas product Brenden Pappas moved up one precious spot and is now 25th. Jeremy Anderson, a playoff runner-up on Sunday, was the big mover of the week having jumped 16 spots to No. 26. Argentina's Miguel Carballo slipped two to No. 27. The top 25 on the final money list will secure PGA TOUR cards for 2008.

ROLAND THATCHER -- From late March into August, Roland Thatcher only missed one cut in 16 events. The tide has turned of late on the Auburn grad as he has inexplicably missed three of his last four cuts. The Woodlands, Texas resident still maintains a healthy lead in the money race -- $31,681 on No. 2 Nick Flanagan, who played his way onto the PGA TOUR, and $70,090 over No. 3 Jason Day, who is expected to be off this week and next. With the money title comes several perks, including a spot in the 2008 PLAYERS Championship.

On Sunday, Ricky Barnes extended his cuts-made streak to 10. (Feldman/WireImage)

$2 STILL SEPARATES NO. 59 GOMEZ AND NO. 60 BLANKS IN BARONA CREEK BATTLE -- The odds were certainly against it, but No. 59 Fabian Gomez and No. 60 Kris Blanks entered last week's event $2 apart on the money list and ended it that way with toe for 29th finishes. Only the top 60 after the Miccousukee Championship (Oct. 25-28) in Miami will be in the field for the season-ending event at Barona Creek. Todd Fischer (tie for 23rd) assumed the 61st position held last week by Joe Daley (MC), $897 behind Blanks.

SEVEN-LETTER PAIRING -- One of last Thursday's Mark Christopher Charity Classic groupings may have taken up the least amount of space on a pairing sheet in TOUR history, particularly the last names.....Yi, Wolf and G. For the record, the full names of the trio were Doug Yi, Erik Wolf and Kenny G (Gorelick).

DID YOU KNOW? Three of the last six winners of the WNB Golf Classic in Midland have won on the PGA TOUR this year: 2001 winner -- Chad Campbell (Viking Classic), 2004 -- Charley Hoffman (Bob Hope Chrysler Classic) and 2006 -- Brandt Snedeker (Wyndham Championship).

• The Class of 2006 continues to hold its own on the PGA TOUR with nine members still among the Top 125 with four weeks to go in the season. Another six player's stand between 126th and 150th.

• Mathew Jones has finished second four times this season, including three of his last five starts. He's just one runner-up finish shy of tying Chris Smith's 2000 record of five second-place finishes in a single season. Jones is perhaps the hottest player on the Tour with four Top-5 finishes in his last five outings.

• The Nationwide Tour will welcome the Mexico Open to its schedule beginning in 2008. The 50th annual Mexico Open will be the second event on the 2008 schedule.