Live Oak High and Gavilan College alum John Ellis is among a
dozen local professionals competing at CordeValle Golf Club Tuesday
in an exemption shootout for the Frys.com Open.
SAN MARTIN
Live Oak High and Gavilan College alum John Ellis is among a dozen local professionals competing at CordeValle Golf Club Tuesday in an exemption shootout for the Frys.com Open.
Ellis, 30, is having an up-and-down year on the Canadian and Nationwide tours and can bolster his resume by qualifying for the Oct. 14-17 Open, Silicon Valley’s first PGA Tour event. Today’s winner will advance.
The qualifier begins at 9:20 a.m. and is closed to the public.
“It’s kind of a dream scenario for me, playing literally down the street from where I went to high school and where I grew up,” Ellis said Monday. “It’s definitely an exciting opportunity.
“I’ve had some good tournaments and some not-so-good tournaments this year. In this game, you’re one good round, one good hole away from turning everything around.”
Ellis’ competition includes San Jose residents Ray Otis and Jonathan Keane, John Colyar and Joseph Bramlett of Saratoga, Santa Cruz’s Isaac J. Weintraub, Los Altos’ Michael Jensen, Livermore’s Todd Fischer, Danville’s Ryan Thomas and Menlo Park’s Robert Grube. Glen Day of Little Rock, Ark., and Matt Marshall of Scottsdale, Ariz., are also entered.
Ellis is at an advantage, having played CordeValle several times — including a 2008 U.S. Open qualifier he triumphed in to reach Torrey Pines.
“It’s an amazing course, and I know it’s going to be a great host for the Fry’s tournament,” said Ellis, who tees off in the last group at 10:10. “If I can qualify and be a part of it, it’ll be a very special day for me.”
Part of the PGA Tour’s fall series, the Frys.com Open features a full 132-person field that will be finalized a week before the tournament.
Frys.com Open officials recently added Coca-Cola Enterprise and Audi to their list of sponsors.
Coca-Cola has had a long-standing relationship with Fry’s Electronics and its annual tournament, which was previously held in Scottsdale, Ariz. The soft drink company will have its line of beverages on sale at CordeValle the week of the event.
Audi will provide 30 courtesy vehicles for use by the PGA Tour players competing and will also sponsor a Hole-in-One contest played on the par-3, 211-yard 16th hole. The first pro to make an ace during competition on the hole will be awarded a brand-new Audi.
