Kim Welch tees it up in her first LPGA Tour event this week in the Navistar Classic in Prattville, Ala.

Eight months after winning the Golf Channel's "Big Break: Ka'anapali" reality show, the 25-year-old Roseville resident cashes in the biggest perk for winning the competition.

She also won a BMW Z4 Coupe, which she hasn't received, her entry fees waived in 2009 LPGA Futures Tour events, which she hopes to not need, and an endorsement contract with Adams Golf that includes $10,000 in cash.

She's keeping her expectations in check and her brother, Peter, on her bag.

"I'm looking at it as a nice preview for what I am going to need to do next year," she said. "I'm just going to play my game and see where it fits."

Welch's 10th-place finish on the Futures Tour money list this season earned her LPGA Tour membership for next season, but low priority. She has been unable to get anyone to commit to how many tournaments she might gain entry into with her limited status.

"I've heard as many as 20 and as few as five," she said. "I'll poke around this week and see if I can find out anything."

Only two outcomes this week can accomplish anything tangible for Welch. A victory, which would greatly elevate her status, and a top-10 finish, which would gain her entry into the next full-field event, the Longs Drugs Challenge, Oct. 9-12 in Danville.

Welch has applied for a sponsor's exemption into the Longs Drugs Challenge but isn't optimistic about her chances.

Barring something miraculous between now and December, she will compete in the final stage of the LPGA qualifying tournament in an attempt to improve her status.

Cameron Champ

He watched last week's Ryder Cup and saw a lot he liked in Anthony Kim. Young, energetic, leading the United States team to victory on American soil.

Inspired by Kim and the American performance, Champ, 13, a student at Granite Oaks Middle School in Rocklin, went to the Internet to search for the date of his potential Ryder Cup debut, his father, Jeff, reported.

He's eyeing the 2016 matches at Hazeltine in Minnesota, when he'll be 21.

"All he said was, 'I'm going to play in the Ryder Cup,' " and then went online to find out where, Jeff said.

Don't underestimate the 5-foot-5, 125-pounder. In the past three First Tee of Greater Sacramento tournaments, Champ has won the overall titles. He's the youngest player to win an overall title, and has been beating boys as old as 18 preparing to head to college on golf scholarships.

Champ shot a 1-under-par 71 at Timber Creek two weeks ago to win TFTGS Tour Championship. As the youngest player ever in the California State Fair Amateur Championship at Haggin Oaks over Labor Day weekend, he shot 75-73 on the 7,000-yard course. He didn't make the 36-hole cut but did serve notice.

Spencer Levin

The 24-year-old from Elk Grove tied for eighth, tied for sixth and finished third in his past three Nationwide Tour events, climbing to 22nd on the money list. Quite a turnaround for a guy who missed the cut in seven of the first nine starts this year and was 60th on July 13. Of his last 26 rounds, 23 have been 70 or better.

The top 25 at season's end earn 2009 PGA Tour privileges. There are four tournaments left. Tom Johnson (Del Campo High School) is 70th on the money list, and Scott Gordon (Carmichael) is 185th.

Tracy Nichols

The 25-year-old from Rocklin failed to make the two-round cut last week at LPGA Tour sectional qualifying in Rancho Mirage. She'll take another swing in Venice, Fla., next week.

Call The Bee's Steve Pajak, (916) 326-5526.