Notes: Being runner-up is not always a bad thing

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• This week's Rex Hospital Open will mark the Tour's 15th annual stop in Raleigh, N.C. Among those entered this week is Skip Kendall, who won the very first Nationwide Tour event in Raleigh back in 1994.

Imada

• While winning is always the goal of any Tour player, finishing second at The Rex Hospital Open has been a sign of future success for many players. Those who were the runner-up in Raleigh and are now PGA TOUR winners include Ryuji Imada, Steve Flesch, Vaughn Taylor, Craig Perks, Troy Matteson and Dennis Paulson.

• Kyle Reifers had three eagles in the first round of last week's Bank of America Open. He's just the 14th player in Tour history to record three in one round.

• Promising youngsters Casey Wittenberg and Spencer Levin both had excellent tournaments last week in Chicago. Wittenberg matched his career-best finish with a tie for third while Levin posted his first career top 10 with a tie for fifth.

• Three Nationwide Tour players earned medalist honors in U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying on Monday. Hunter Haas, David Hearn and Peter Tomasulo all topped the fields in their qualifiers and will compete next week in the U.S. Open in San Diego.