Live Oak graduate collects seven birdies Monday to win qualifier
at Bayonet Course
SEASIDE — Live Oak graduate John Ellis fired a 7-under-par 65 to win the Frys.com Open Qualifier held Monday at Bayonet Course in Seaside.
Ellis enjoyed a bogeyless round on the challenging 7,104-yard course, collecting three straight birdies on the fifth, sixth and seventh holes to go with seven birdies overall.
It was the last opportunity to qualify for Ellis, who tied for second place in an exemption shootout Sept. 17, and the 30-year-old rose to the occasion.
Ellis made the cut for this week’s Frys.com Open at CordeValle Golf Club, the same course where Ellis qualified for the 2008 U.S. Open, along with Danny Wax, Chris Marin and Aaron Goldberg. Wax finished second at 67, and Marin and Goldberg were part of a five-way tie for third place at 69 out of 66 participants.
Silicon Valley’s first PGA Tour event runs Thursday through Sunday.
Ellis collected book-end birdies on the daunting par-5 Nos. 1 and 18 holes and also birdied the 10th and 12th to go with his back-to-back-to-back effort.
The Nationwide and Canadian Tour standout parred the rest.
COMMITMENTS
Saratoga resident Joseph Bramlett has received the fifth of eight sponsor exemptions for the Frys.com Open, tournament director Ian Knight announced Saturday.
The 22-year-old Bramlett missed the cut for the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by five shots but still tied for fifth out of 12 amateurs in the field. He also had the opportunity to play a practice round with fellow Stanford graduate Tiger Woods.
“Bramlett is certainly a promising local talent with a bright future ahead,” said Knight, who will hand out the other three sponsor exemptions today and Wednesday. “His achievements while at Stanford and his appearance as an amateur in the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach certainly speak to his talent and character as a player. We look forward to watching him compete.”
Bramlett is a five-time U.S. Amateur qualifier, including the 2002 edition at Oakland Hills where he was the youngest qualifier in tournament history at age 14. He was All-America his freshman year at Stanford and helped lead the Cardinal to an NCAA title. Injuries to his wrist marred the remains of his career at Stanford, but he is now 100 percent physically.
Also Saturday, Frys.com Open officials announced the final players committed to the tournament: five-time PGA Tour winner and British Open champion Tom Lehman; three-time PGA Tour winner Woody Austin and two-time winner Aaron Baddeley. Lehman is the fifth British Open champion to join the field.
FAN’S GUIDE
Wanting to make sure all spectators experience all the fun and excitement of the Frys.com Open, tournament officials have created a list of helpful tips and guidelines.
Parking: Free public parking is available on the north side of Watsonville Road with free five-minute shuttle rides to the tournament gates. The shuttles will run 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the weekend.
There is no public parking on the tournament grounds.
Tickets: Daily general admission tickets and all-week badges are still available and can be purchased at the main tournament entrance at Clos LaChance Winery, located next to the shuttle drop-off location. Additionally, tickets can be purchased online or by phone throughout the tournament week by visiting www.frysopengolf.com or calling (480) ITS-GOLF (487-4653).
Cell phones allowed: The Frys.com Open has been selected to participate in the PGA Tour’s mobile device testing, which allows fans to carry mobile devices and use them in select areas on the golf course. The testing is being conducted to gauge the potential for mobile devices to be integrated into other PGA Tour events to enhance the overall fan experience.
The tournament has designated special cell phone-friendly areas (mainly near concessions and hospitality venues) where cell phones can be used without disturbing play. Additionally, in an effort to offer spectators with a quality experience, the Frys.com Open has created a mobile tournament website that can be used to enhance fans’ time spent on property. For a link to the mobile site, text frysopen to 99222.
Michelob Ultra Tailgate Party: The Michelob Ultra Tailgate Party is located at the heart of the tournament between holes Nos. 18 and 13 and is open to the general public. It will provide televisions and video boards featuring baseball and football games and the golf tournament. Sunday, the Michelob Ultra Tailgate Party will be hosted by Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott and other sports celebrities.
Michelob Ultra 19th Hole: The Michelob Ultra 19th Hole is open to the general public and is located between the CordeValle Clubhouse and the Golf Shop. This area has great views of the course, is adjacent to the practice putting greens and will include several televisions featuring golf, football and baseball.
The 17th Hole: The 17th hole will it be one of the more fun and exciting holes of the tournament; it’s the Kodak Challenge Hole.
There is also a unique hospitality venue available to the general public: Beer for Birdies. The Beer for Birdies promotion features discounted beers for five minutes after every birdie is made. A shot clock will countdown the time for the fans. Immediately following every birdie on the driveable, par-4 17th, beers will cost $3 for a 12-ounce can.
Additionally, if a professional makes a hole in one on the 17th hole on Saturday, fans can take their Saturday tickets to a Silicon Valley Audi Dealership by Oct. 30 to be entered into a drawing for a brand-new Audi.
Clos LaChance Winery: Clos LaChance Winery is the tournament’s main entrance and will also serve as a hot spot for nightly entertainment with live music Thursday through Sunday.
SPECTATOR TIPS
Golf etiquette 101: Stay quiet and stand still when the players are about to hit the ball. Booing is inappropriate at any time. For your own safety, follow the directions of tournament marshals. Spectators will be removed immediately without warning for: refusal to obey quiet signs or signals, distracting or embarrassing a player, making rude, vulgar or other inappropriate comments or gestures toward a player, cheering or booing at inappropriate times.
Daily pairing sheet and map: Pick up a daily spectator guide to find out when the players tee off and the order of the groups. The daily spectator guides include a course map and are available in the expo area upon entering the tournament and at various locations on the course.
The pros will play in threesomes all four days of the tournament. Check the scoreboards to find out who the leaders are and where they are on course. One way to tell the players from a distance is to look for their caddies, who wear vests that have color-coded pockets and trim (red, white or black), which will be indicated on the daily pairing sheet.
Autographs: Players are more receptive to requests for autographs after they have completed their round, so don’t interrupt them before or during their round. PGA Tour guidelines do not allow players to sign autographs during his competitive round. A good place to catch them is at the practice area, as most players will return there after finishing their round.
Food, drink, souvenirs: Concession stands are located throughout the tournament grounds. Souvenirs can be found at the CordeValle Golf Shop, located next to the first tee and adjacent to the Clubhouse.
Officials also ask that fans abide by all tournament rules and regulations, including this updated list of items that will not be permitted at CordeValle. Abiding by these guidelines will make it easier for everyone to get through the tournament entrance and allow all spectators to enjoy the Frys.com Open.
