The NGA Hooters Tour named former Alabama All-America golfer Michael Thompson as its player of the year, which earns him entry into the Chattanooga Classic.
Thompson will play as one of two unrestricted sponsor exemptions in the Nationwide Tour event Oct. 7-10 at Black Creek Club. The other exemption will go to a member of the All-America Pro Golf Tour.
“This is a pleasant surprise,” said Thompson, who turned pro in 2009. “It’s another chance to see what life is like on the Nationwide Tour and a big boost of confidence heading into Q-school.”
Thompson was the 2007 U.S. Amateur runner-up. That earned him a spot in the 2008 Masters, where he became notable for calling a penalty on himself and then missed the cut by a stroke.
“People still come up to me and talk about that. It’s a good ice-breaker in pro-ams,” said Thompson, who has played in two Nationwide events. “A lot of people remember what that happened.”
Thompson has earned more than $155,000 in two years on the Hooters Tour, including two victories and a tie for second last weekend in Elgin, S.C.
“There’s a big learning curve between amateur golf and pro golf,” Thompson said. “I struggled last year, but I worked hard and I’m happy to start seeing the spoils of that work.”
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or (423) 757-6484. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/UchSports