SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
University of Southern California’s Martin Trainer to play with the PGA TOUR Aug. 1-7
For a second year the PGA TOUR’s Reno-Tahoe Open gives collegiate athletes a chance to play with the pros, offering the first exemption of the season to Martin Trainer, winner of the Pac-10 Men’s Golf Championship. The University of Southern California (USC) sophomore shot a 5-under 275 to help the Trojans win their 19th Pac-10 title and earn the chance to compete at the 13th annual Reno-Tahoe Open at Montrêux Aug. 1 – 7, 2011.
“The Reno-Tahoe Open is known for cultivating young talent and giving collegiate athletes a chance to compete at the professional level is a big part of that,” said Jana Smoley, executive director of the Reno-Tahoe Open. “If you look at past tournament participants like Nick Watney and Ricky Barnes, they were both excellent players in college before going pro. Martin Trainer is one of the top young golfers in the nation and we look forward to seeing him take advantage of this great opportunity to play in front of an international audience.”
The Reno-Tahoe Open initiated its collegiate exemption program in 2010, when Daniel Miernicki of Oregon took home the title at the 2010 Stanford U.S. Intercollegiate Golf Tournament and received an invitation to play in the 12th annual event at Montrêux Golf & Country Club at the base of Mt. Rose in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The exemption was one of just eight extended by the tournament last year.
This year’s tournament takes place Monday, Aug. 1 – Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011 with practice rounds Monday through Wednesday and pro-am tournaments Monday and Wednesday. Tournament play begins Thursday, Aug. 4 and is televised live on the GOLF CHANNEL from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. PST Aug. 4 – 5, 3:30 – 6 p.m. PST Aug. 6, and from 4 – 6 p.m. PST, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011.
For more information on the 13th annual Reno-Tahoe Open at Montrêux, including ticket sales, vacation packages, volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.RenoTahoeOpen.com or contact the tournament office at 775-322-3900.
The 13th annual Reno-Tahoe Open at Montrêux, an official PGA TOUR event, takes place Aug. 1 – 7, 2011 at Montrêux Golf & Country Club in Reno, Nev. The tournament is a full-field stop during the PGA TOUR Regular Season and is part of the FedExCup series, a points competition for PGA TOUR professionals. The internationally-televised tournament brings in millions of dollars in coverage for the Reno-Tahoe region through its affiliation with The Golf Channel as it follows 132 PGA TOUR professionals competing for a share of the tournament’s $3 million purse. The Reno-Tahoe Open is operated and managed by the Reno-Tahoe Open Foundation, comprised of key sponsors including Eldorado Hotel Reno, Montrêux Development Group and NV Energy.
