The class of the Classic.

Byline: Ron Bellamy The Register-Guard

JUNCTION CITY - To catch a rising star.

That's one of the chief attractions of the Oregon Classic, the $475,000 Nationwide Tour event that runs Thursday through Sunday at Shadow Hills Country Club.

While the tournament has seen its share of former PGA Tour winners - golfers who have been successful on that Tour in the past, or are staying competitive while looking ahead to the Champions Tour - the reputation of the Nationwide Tour has been built on up-and-coming young golfers, the PGA Tour stars of the future.

"Life can change so quickly for them," Nationwide Tour official Tim Benton said recently.

And yet, those golfers might cause nary a ripple on a given week on the par-72, 7,020-yard Shadow Hills course, playing in relative anonymity before finding success later on the PGA Tour.

"All of these guys are so good, that any one of them could be the next Zach Johnson, the next Boo Weekley, whatever measure you want to use," tournament director Chris Hoff said Monday. "They are all so close in talent. You're not going to know. ..."

In retrospect, here's one reporter's list, in consultation with experts, of the top 10 golfers who have played in the Oregon Classic, based on both subsequent and potential future success on the PGA Tour.

For that reason, we don't list a two-time Ryder Cup golfer like Steve Pate, already a six-time PGA Tour winner when he played here last year, or the resurgent Woody Austin, who was already a former PGA Tour rookie of the year when he played in the inaugural Oregon Classic in 1998, charming his partners in the pro-am and subsequently missing the cut.

Our focus here is on the rising stars, who came through the Oregon Classic and have burned brightly since, or seemed poised to do so. Our all-time top 10, with Oregon Classic years and results:

1, Zach Johnson, tied for 26th in 2000.

Johnson, 31, won twice on the PGA Tour this year, including the Masters, becoming the second Oregon Classic alum to win a major. He was a Nationwide Tour rookie when he played here in 2000, and the Oregon Classic was just one of four cuts he made in 11 total tournaments, missing the cut in his first six events.

The former Drake University golfer went on to become the Nationwide Tour player of the year in 2003, and a year later became just the second PGA Tour rookie to surpass $2 million in earnings. In his fourth season on the PGA Tour, he ranks No. 10 on the current money list with earnings of $3.3 million this year, having been in the top 40 each of his three previous years.

Johnson was a member of the Ryder Cup team last year, and is on the Presidents Cup team this year.

2, Boo Weekley, tied for 11th in 2003, missed cut in 2004, tied for 53rd in 2005, tied for 20th last year.

Weekley had spent 2002 on the PGA Tour, lost his card, and then played in four straight Oregon Classics, attracting notice for his unorthodox golfing garb - he was known to play in camouflage pants - and country-boy demeanor.

Back on the PGA Tour this year, the 34-year-old Florida native captured his first PGA Tour victory, in the Verizon Heritage, and was a missed putt away from a victory in the Honda Classic. Currently No. 23 on the PGA Tour money list with earnings of almost $2.3 million

3, Brandt Snedeker, tied for eighth in 2004, tied for 49th in 2005, tied for 42nd in 2006.

Snedeker, like Weekley, played here last year and won on the PGA Tour this year, capturing the Wyndham Championship. Despite the strong start by Jeff Quinney, the South Eugene High School and Arizona State product, the 26-year-old former Vanderbilt star has become the leading candidate for PGA Tour rookie of the year honors, ranking 13th on the PGA Tour money list with earnings of $2.7 million. Like Weekley, Snedeker is still alive in the PGA Tour playoffs.

4, Aaron Baddeley, missed cut in 2002.

Baddeley, 26, was the runner-up in the BMW Championship last weekend, finishing two strokes behind Tiger Woods. He scored a come-from-behind victory over Quinney in the FBR Open this year, having won the Verizon Heritage last year. Currently No. 9 on the PGA Tour money list, slightly ahead of Johnson, with earnings of $3.31 million this year.

5, Lucas Glover, missed cut in 2002 and 2003.

Glover's four rounds at Shadow Hills, in his first full season as a pro, included three at par or better, and also a 78. The 28-year-old Clemson grad earned more than $2 million on the PGA Tour each of the past two seasons, with a victory in the Funai Classic in 2005. Glover ranks No. 40 on the money list, with earnings of $1.6 million; his strong play in the second half of the season has earned him selection as a captain's pick for the Presidents Cup team.

Very much considered a golfer whose best years are yet to come.

6, Camilo Villegas, tied for 22nd in 2005.

A memorable photo from the 2005 Oregon Classic had Villegas almost on his stomach to study a putt; he had no Nationwide Tour status at the beginning of that year, but played his way on to the PGA Tour. Considered one of the best players under 30 in the world, the 25-year-old Colombian has yet to win on the PGA Tour, but that's considered to be only a matter of time. Has earned almost $1.7 million in his second year on the PGA Tour, ranking No. 37 in earnings.

7, Bubba Watson, tied for eighth in 2003, tied for 20th in 2004, tied for 17th in 2005. The long-hitting lefty made news in off-beat ways at Oregon Classic - in 2003, he hit a drive six feet over the green on No. 2, a dogleg-left par 4, to the consternation of the players putting there at the time, and his errant second shot on No. 18 - a 4-iron from 240 yards - entered a skybox and drew blood from longtime Shadow Hills member Char DuChateau.

The 28-year-old former Georgia golfer joined the PGA Tour last year, when he had three top-10 finishes, with five more this year. Still looking for first PGA Tour win; ranks No. 43 on money list with earnings of $1.6 million.

8, Vaughn Taylor, finished 11th in 2000.

Thirty-one-year old from Augusta, Ga., has been a consistent player since reaching the PGA Tour in 2004, with two wins and selection to the Ryder Cup team last year, when he posted a career-high six top-10 finishes and placed No 35 on the money list. This year, he's 65th, with earnings of $1.2 million and a 10th-place tie in his hometown tournament, the Masters.

9, Shaun Micheel, missed cut in 1999.

Micheel, who went 76-74 in his two rounds at Shadow Hills, has one PGA Tour victory, but that's a big one: The 36-year-old former Indiana golfer became the first Oregon Classic graduate to win a major when he captured the 2003 PGA Championship, and that alone gets him on this list. He followed a poor year in 2005 - less than $500,000 in earnings - with a top 50 season last year, and currently stands No. 102, with earnings of $767,637.

10, Tim Clark, missed cut in 1999, tied for 58th in 2000.

South African, 31, has played in two Presidents Cups, finished second in the 2006 Masters and ranks No. 31 on the PGA Tour money list this year with earnings of $1.8 million despite being limited to 16 events (with four top 10 finishes) because of a neck injury.

Honorable mention, alphabetically:

Ben Crane, missed the cut in 1998 and 1999, and tied for 58th in 2000. The 31-year-old former Duck has two PGA Tour victories and ranked No. 19 on the money list in 2005 and last year collected more than $1 million for the fourth straight year. Has struggled with back problems over the years, and this year ranks 186th with earnings of just $189,923.

Jason Gore, fourth in 2000, winner in 2002, tied for fourth in 2004. The most successful of the Oregon Classic winners on the PGA Tour, the 33-year-old Gore has one PGA Tour victory, in 2005, and ranks 90th this year with earnings just over $920,000.

Charley Hoffman, tied for 20th in 2000, tied for 16th in 2004, tied for ninth in 2005. Rookie last year earned his first PGA Tour win this year, capturing the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic; 30-year-old former UNLV golfer is No. 55 on the money list with earnings of $1.36 million.

Arron Oberholser, second in 2002. San Jose State grad, 32, earned more than $2 million last year, when he recorded his first PGA Tour win at Pebble Beach, and has followed that up with five top-10 finishes this year, including a tie for fourth in the PGA Championship, to rank No. 33 with earnings of $1.7 million.

Jeff Quinney, five Oregon Classics, from 2002 through 2006, with four in-the-money finishes, including the 2004 title. Former Arizona State star lasted in the PGA Tour playoffs chase through last weekend, and was an early contender for PGA Tour rookie of the year honors. Has five top-10 finishes this year and ranks No. 48 on the PGA Tour money list with earnings of $1.4 million.

Chris Riley, missed cut in 1998. Former Ryder Cup team member in 2004, when he was paired with Tiger Woods, Riley is entered in this week's Oregon Classic, having lost his fully exempt status on the PGA Tour. He appears to be regaining form and deserves recognition because of his accomplishments on the PGA Tour between 1999 and 2004, when he had a win and 25 other top-10 finishes and had two seasons with earnings of more than $2 million, and two others over $1 million.

Nick Watney, tied for 37th in 2004. Third-year PGA Tour pro is a 26-year-old former Fresno State standout who was ranked as the nation's top college golfer as a senior. Got his first win this year, at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, and ranks No. 39 with earnings of $1.6 million.

Brett Wetterich, tied for third in 2003, missed cut in 2004. A member of the Ryder Cup team in 2006, when he regained his PGA Tour card through Q School and wound up winning the Byron Nelson Classic and finishing No. 10 on the money list. At 34, having another strong season with earnings of more than $2 million to rank No. 27 and stay alive in the playoffs.

Five possible future stars on the PGA Tour to watch during the Oregon Classic, Thursday through Sunday at Shadow Hills Country Club:

Jason Day. Australian became the youngest player to win a PGA Tour sanctioned event earlier this year, at age 19, and ranks third on the Nationwide Tour money list. The next Tiger Woods? That's been some of the hype.

"He has so much game," tournament director Chris Hoff said. "Everybody is saying this will be our one and only chance to see him, he's that good."

Roland Thatcher. Has long been a great ball-striker, but this year's

leading money winner has figured out something with the putter. Auburn grad, 30, is considered to have the intangibles to go to the Tour in 2008 and make some noise.

Chez Reavie. Three-time all-American at Arizona State. The 25-year-old won this year's Knoxville Open and ranks No. 10 on the Nationwide Tour money list.

Nicholas Thompson. At 24, the former Georgia Tech golfer is poised to return to the PGA Tour, ranking No. 6 on the Nationwide money list. Thompson won the HSBC New Zealand 

PGA Championship and has six top-10 finishes this season.

Miguel Carballo. The 28-year-old rookie from Argentina is one of the year's best stories; he earned his status on the Nationwide Tour with a win at the Movistar Panama Championship. Is battling for his PGA Tour card at No. 23 on the Nationwide list.

RISING STARS

Five possible future stars on the PGA Tour to watch during the Oregon Classic, Thursday through Sunday at Shadow Hills Country Club:

Jason Day: Australian became the youngest player to win a PGA Tour-sanctioned event earlier this year, at age 19, and ranks third on the Nationwide Tour money list. The next Tiger Woods? That's been some of the hype. "He has so much game," tournament director Chris Hoff said. "Everybody is saying this will be our one and only chance to see him. He's that good."

Roland Thatcher: Has long been a great ball-striker, but this year's leading money-winner has figured out something with the putter. Auburn grad, 30, is considered to have the intangibles to go to the Tour in 2008 and make some noise.

Chez Reavie: Three-time all-American at Arizona State, the 25-year-old won this year's Knoxville Open and ranks No. 10 on the Nationwide Tour money list.

Nicholas Thompson: At 24, the former Georgia Tech golfer is poised to return to the PGA Tour, ranking No. 6 on the Nationwide money list. Thompson won the HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship and has six top-10 finishes this season.

Miguel Carballo: The 28-year-old rookie from Argentina is one of the year's best stories; he earned his status on the Nationwide Tour with a victory at the Movistar Panama Championship. Is battling for his PGA Tour card at No. 23 on the Nationwide list.