IN THE NEWS
Sam Saunders Accepts Invitation to Play in the Inaugural Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open presented by Planters
Arnold Palmer’s Grandson is in His First Full Year as a Professional
(Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida – October 11, 2010) – Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open presented by Planters Executive Director Jeff Sanders announced today Sam Saunders, grandson of golfing legend Arnold Palmer, has accepted a sponsor invitation to play in next week’s tournament.
“Sam is a fine young man and a great golfer in his own right,” said Sanders. “We are thrilled that he has accepted an invitation to help launch this first-year event.”
Saunders, an Orlando, Fla. native and past Florida State High School Champion, is playing his first full year as a professional after an impressive college career at Clemson University. He has played in tournaments on both the PGA TOUR and the Nationwide Tour and captured a top-20 finish in March at the PGA TOUR’s Honda Classic.
“I appreciate the opportunity to play in the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open presented by Planters and can’t wait to tee it up,” Saunders said. “I am especially excited to be playing in such a great new event so close to home.”
Saunders, 23, joins what is expected to be the strongest field on the Nationwide Tour this year. Currently every player among the top 60 on the money list is entered and 95 of the top 100.
More than 200 non-profit organizations have the potential to benefit from Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open presented by Planters through the PepsiCo TICKETS Fore CHARITY™ program. Non-profit organizations taking part in the PepsiCo TICKETS Fore CHARITY program sell tournament tickets and keep 100% of the sales they generate. Weekly tickets are available now at www.winndixiejacksonvilleopen.com, and both weekly and daily tickets will be available at the gate. All active and retired military and dependents are allowed admission to the tournament by showing a valid military ID at the gate.
The first annual Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open presented by Planters takes place October 21-24 at TPC Sawgrass Dye’s Valley. Tournament week festivities kick off Monday, October 18 at 5 pm with the Florida Times Union Junior Clinic presented by Powerade. The tournament is produced by Portland, Ore.-based Jeff Sanders Promotions, Inc.
Return to Winn-DixieJacksonvilleOpen.com
ABOUT THE NATIONWIDE TOUR
Founded (1990), owned and operated by the PGA TOUR, the Nationwide Tour identifies those players who are ready to compete and win on golf’s biggest stage. As the official proving ground of the PGA TOUR, two out of three PGA TOUR members are Nationwide Tour alumni. Tour alumni have won 286 PGA TOUR titles, including 13 majors and four PLAYERS Championships. Twenty-five PGA TOUR cards will be at stake over the course of 29 events in 2010. Recognizing the Tour’s growing stature, Nationwide Insurance has renewed its umbrella sponsorship of the Nationwide Tour through 2012. The PGA TOUR, through the efforts of its three tours and their tournaments, sponsors, players and volunteers, supports over 2,000 local charities and has surpassed $1.5 billion in charitable giving. To learn more about the PGA TOUR and Nationwide Tour and to follow the season-long quest for a PGA TOUR card, visit PGATOUR.COM.
ABOUT JEFF SANDERS PROMOTIONS, INC.
Jeff Sanders Promotions, Inc. (JSP) is a national leader in the golf event management industry. Founded in 1989 by former PGA TOUR member Jeff Sanders and based in Portland, Ore., JSP has produced more than 200 events across the country that have been responsible for generating more than $50 million for non-profit organizations. JSP has managed a Nationwide Tour event in Boise, Idaho, since 1990, making it one of the longest running, most successful events on the Tour. For more information, please visit www.jspgolf.com.
ABOUT DYE’S VALLEY COURSE AT TPC SAWGRASS
As a sibling to the world renowned PLAYERS Stadium Course, Dye’s Valley Course was designed by legendary golf course architect, Pete Dye. The PGA TOUR Player Consultant to the Dye’s Valley Course is PGA TOUR veteran Jerry Pate. Dye’s Valley Course has hosted its share of tournaments including the Senior PLAYERS Championship at Dye’s Valley in 1988 won by Billy Casper. In 1989, former U.S. Open Champion, Orville Moody shot a course-record 64 in the third round to outdistance Charles Coody and Gary Player. The Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open will reverse the nines on the Dye’s Valley Course for tournament competition to provide an exciting finishing hole, making it fan friendly for spectators to follow the action. It will play to a par of 70.
ABOUT NATIONWIDE
Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by A.M. Best. The company provides a full range of personalized insurance and financial services, including auto insurance, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life insurance, farm, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and health and productivity services. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.
Nationwide, the Nationwide Framemark and On Your Side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
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