By Joe Chemycz, PGA TOUR Staff

Reprinted with permission

GREENVILLE, S.C. – David Mathis turned out to be a prophet. The 34-year-old North Carolinian told his wife at the start of the week that he thought he was going to win the BMW Charity Pro-Am. Mathis was true to his word Sunday, capping off a nearly wire-to-wire run with a final-round 68 for a three-stroke margin and his first career title.

"I just felt like I was going to win," he said of thise early-week thoughts. "I've gone into weeks where I was playing well enough to win, but this week felt different. I thought if I made the shots I needed to make and hole some putts that I'd be in this spot."

(A 1997 Campbell University graduate), Mathis posted back-to-back 65s and jumped to the second-round lead in the tournament that pairs Nationwide Tour pros with celebrities and amateurs in a better-ball format over three courses in the Greenville area. Mathis maintained the lead after three days and then held off a host of challengers in the final round at the Thornblade Club to finish with a 20-under-par 266 total, three better than Roger Tambellini (65) and four in front of Matt Weibring (71).

Mathis' first career win was worth $121,500 from the $675,000 purse and jumped him from No. 44 to No. 4 on the money list. The top 25 at the end of the year will earn their PGA TOUR cards for 2009. He also collected the keys to a BMW X5 automobile.

"It's everything I imagined," said Mathis of his first win. "I never thought it wouldn't happen. I thought my game was progressing and I could see improvement in my game. That helped me a great deal with my confidence."

Mathis started the final round at 17 under par and one stroke in front of Weibring. Three birdies in his first five holes put him at 20 under and forced the field to chase the leader on a difficult golf course with the wind blowing and thunderstorms looming.

"I wanted to keep the pedal down," said Mathis. "On this Tour, guys can run off five birdies in a row very quickly. I knew I had to continue to try and make birdies, especially with two par 5s in the last four holes, anything can happen."

Not much happened the rest of the way and not many seriously challenged Mathis, who remained steady and basically shut the door by birdyieing the two par 5s, Nos. 15 and 16. By then, Tambellini was in the house at 17 under and nobody else was close.

"As the round went on, I was able to play a little safer and avoid some places that could lead to some bigger number," said Mathis, who hit 9 of 13 fairways and 11 of 18 greens. "I played the first 12 holes exactly the way I would have played them had this been Thursday.

"I tried to keep the ball under the wind and hit to some safer spots," he added. "Maybe we took a little more conservative line on the pins but that was it. I just wanted to stay out of trouble and make any big numbers."

By the time he stepped to the 18th tee, his lead was four and the win virtually certain.

"As I got to the tee, I thought, 'this is the situation I've wanted to be in my entire life,'" said Mathis. "One hole left to play, four-stroke lead with a great hole left to play on a great golf course. The game plan goes out the window at that point."

Mathis's second shot came up short in a bunker and he blasted to 12 feet and two-putted for the win.

Third Round Highlights

Mathis shot a third-round 69 in the BMW Charity Pro-Am Saturday and moved one step closer to his first career win. Mathis stands at 17-under 198 after 54 holes in the event that pairs Nationwide Tour pros with amateurs and celebrities in a better-ball format, one shot better than Matt Weibring, who held the 54-hole lead one week ago.

The tournament is spread out over three courses in the Greenville area, and Mathis completed his rotation at the host course, the Thornblade Club.

Weibring, who posted a final-round 75 at the Fort Smith Classic and tied for fifth last week, shot a 4-under 68 at Bright's Creek Club to finish at 16 under and get within one of Mathis, who began the day with a two-shot lead after opening with consecutive 65s.

"It could have been really good today," said Mathis after his round. "I hit some good putts, but they just didn't drop. Still, it's a fun spot to be in."

Mathis, a 34-year old from Raleigh, N.C., failed to capitalize on his outstanding iron play and needed 32 putts for the day.

"Tee to green I played pretty good. I hit a lot of nice shots," he said. "I guess I could stand to hole a few putts from the 10-to 12- to 15-foot range."

Mathis hit 15 greens in regulation on Saturday, fewer than he had in each of his first two rounds. Thus far, he's been accurate on 48 of 54 holes and leads the tournament in that category.

"I feel very confident with the motion I'm making," said Mathis, who is No. 44 on the money but with four consecutive top-25 finishes to his credit. "Every time I work with my instructor, he tells me 'don't worry, it' coming.' It's easier said than done if you miss a cut.

"I've made a few changes in the last four weeks about the way I go about playing the golf course and I think that's probably helped me some. I feel good about what I'm doing and just ready to rock and roll tomorrow."

Second Round Leader

Mathis continued his birdie assault at the BMW Charity Pro-Am, shooting a 7-under-par 65 at Bright's Creek Golf Club to grab a two-shot lead Friday at the tournament's halfway point. Mathis is at 14 under after 36 holes of the event, which has Nationwide Tour professionals playing with celebrities and amateurs in a better-ball format.

The tournament is spread out over three courses in the Greenville-Spartanburg area and Mathis will finish his rotation at the tournament's host course, the Thornblade Club, on Saturday. Sunday's final round will also be at Thornblade.

Matt Weibring, the 54-hole leader last week at the Fort Smith Classic, is at 12 under after birdies on the final three holes and a 7-under-par 65 at Carolina Country Club.

Mathis ran off a string of six consecutive birdies during his opening round at Carolina CC and followed that up with a bogey-free effort at the mountainous Bright's Creek layout that stretches 728 yards longer than Carolina Country Club.

"I hit some great tee shots out here. It seems that's the key," said Mathis, who hit 9 of 14 fairways. "On certain holes, you've just got 'man up' and hit a good one."

Mathis has been even better with his iron play, hitting 15 greens in regulation during the opening round and 17 in Friday's second.

"I didn't strike the ball as well as I did yesterday, but I hit my wedges really close," said Mathis, who canned five birdie putts that totaled only 16 feet and one other that measured 18 feet. "My goal is to win but I've got to take it one shot at a time because you can't get ahead of yourself out here. We all want to be in 'The 25' at the end of the year; that's what we're playing for."

The top 25 money winners at the end of the season will move on to the PGA TOUR in 2009. Mathis has four consecutive top-25 finishes and is currently No. 44 on the money list.

Opening Round 65

Mathis and former Clemson star Matt Hendrix carded 7-under 65s at Carolina CC and shared second place, one stroke behind first-round leader Rick Price.

Rich Morris, who tied for third at last week's Fort Smith (AR) Classic and Bill Lunde are tied for sixth place after posting 66s at Bright's Creek, while Michael Boyd shot a 66 at Carolina CC.

The lowest rounds at Thornblade Club, the host course for the event, were 5-under 66s by a half-dozen players, including Matt Weibring and Kevin Hall, a sponsor pick this week.

Price put together his career-low round in relation to par in moving to the front of the $675,000 Nationwide Tour event. The 39-year old Price, who turns 40 on Sunday, got off to a quick start by rolling in a 20-footer for birdie on the second hole.

Mathis started his day on the back nine at Carolina CC and after a par at No. 10, the 34-year old North Carolinian reeled off six consecutive birdies before hitting a shot into the water at No. 18.

"I've had streaks like that before but they never get old," said Mathis. "It feels good to see putts fall in. In a nutshell, it was pretty much solid golf. I drove it in play, hit it close and holed the putts."

Career Update

A native of Lexington, N.C., Mathis now resides in Raleigh, where TPC Wakefield Plantation is his home course. He stands fourth on the 2008 Nationwide money list in 10 events and is 24th in scoring average.

Mathis enjoyed his best finish on the 2007 Nationwide Tour at the Miccosukee Championship, where he tied for second. He earned his Nationwide Tour card for 2006 after playing 2001-2005 on the Canadian Tour. He finished fourth on the 2005 CanTour money list.

Mathis was an All-Big South Conference performer in 1993 and 1994 when he led the Camels to back-to-back league titles.

Fellow Campbell graduate Brad Fritsch ('00) is also competing on the Nationwide Tour and ranks third in driving distance (305.2 yards) as well as 101st on the money list.

During his Fighting Camel career, Fritsch was twice honored as a Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). He earned Trans America Athletic Conference All-Academic honors in each of his four years at CU and was a second-team All-TAAC selection as a senior when he finished ninth in the 2000 league championship.

David Mathis

Nationwide Tour Victories

(1) 2008 BMW Charity Pro-Am.

Current Year Nationwide Tour Money and Position

$166,479 (4)

Current Year Best Nationwide Tour Finishes

1-- BMW Charity Pro-Am. T6-- South Georgia Classic.

Current Year Nationwide Tour Best Round

65 at Round 2, BMW Charity Pro-Am. 65 at Round 1, BMW Charity Pro-Am.

Current Year Nationwide Tour Highlights

Missed the cut in three of his first five starts before reeling off four consecutive top-25 finishes, culminating with his first top-10 of the season at the South Georgia Classic (T6).

Best Nationwide Tour Finishes

1-- BMW Charity Pro-Am.

2007 Best Nationwide Tour Finishes

T2-- Miccosukee Championship. 7-- Xerox Classic.

2007 Season Nationwide Tour

Tournaments Entered--24; in money--14; Top 10 finishes--2

Career Highlights

Made the cut in 14 of 24 starts on the 2007 Nationwide Tour, including eight top-25 finishes. Finished the year No. 47 on the money list, with $135,218. Struggled throughout the first half of the year, missing the cut in nine of his first 14 starts. Turned the season

around with a seventh-place finish at the Xerox Classic, moving inside the top 100 (No. 88) for the first time all season. It began a span of nine made cuts in the last 10 events of the year. Entered the Miccosukee Championship in the 76th spot on the money list, but a career-best T2 finish in the last full-field event of the year moved him to No. 47 on the money list and into the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship at Barona Creek. Made the cut in 16 of 27 starts during his rookie season on the 2006 Nationwide Tour, with three top-25 finishes, including a career-best T12 at the Chattanooga Classic. Ended the season No. 99 on the money list, with $51,303. Had missed the cut in all seven career starts on the Nationwide Tour prior to 2006. Has missed the cut in all five starts on the PGA TOUR. Member of the Canadian Tour from 2001-05. Playing on what turned out to be a broken foot, notched his first career win on that Tour at the 2005 Michelin Morelia Classic. Posted a final-round 64 to storm back from six shots down. The victory helped him finish a career-best fourth on the Tour's final money list. Has also won on the Tarheel Tour.