Summerhays' decision to turn professional, announced Wednesday, will enable him to play in a tournament close to home in September, while forcing him to miss a likely opportunity to play for the United States in the Walker Cup amateur matches in Ireland. He's also giving up his final year of eligibility at BYU, although he spent part of Wednesday on campus formulating a plan to complete his remaining 10 semester-hours for a degree in finance.

The Utah EnergySolutions Championship at Willow Creek Country Club in Sandy (Sept. 3-9) will be among 12 full-field events remaining on the 2007 Nationwide Tour schedule, as of next week. Saying this is "the right time" to pursue a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Summerhays will compete in next week's Cox Classic in Omaha, Neb.

Exempt for the tour through 2008 via his victory in the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational in Columbus, Ohio, Summerhays elected to turn pro now in hopes of riding his outstanding play into a PGA Tour opportunity. Each year, the top 25 money-winners advance from the Nationwide Tour.

While Summerhays will start at zero dollars next week and the No. 25 player already has more than $100,000, his brother Boyd - himself a tour player - believes Daniel is playing well enough to make a run at the top 25.

BYU coach Bruce Brockbank also endorsed Summerhays' decision, saying, "You can't turn down a year and a half of exemptions, when this is what you've dreamed about all your life."

A two-time State Amateur champion during his Davis High years, Summerhays has played brilliantly since mid-April, concluding his college career with a fourth-place finish in the NCAA Championship and performing well in national amateur events.