See Page 43 For Event Information - SCN Research

SPORTS
Loren Roberts
Par
for the
Course
The JELD-WEN
Tradition Brings
World-Class Golf
to Town
by Jeremy Lloyd
The par 72 track is highlighted by
majestic stands of noble fir and a gently sloping
natural terrain; but don’t be deceived by
the aesthetic beauty. Lightning-fast greens,
deceptively placed water hazards and 114 bunkers
just waiting to consume wayward shots
can bring even the best golfers to their knees.
Local favorite Peter Jacobsen played a big
part four years ago in bringing Oregon its first
official Tour date since 1982. From 1988 to
2002, Peter Jacobsen Productions, Inc. helped
make the Fred Meyer Challenge one of the
most successful non-Tour events in the country,
and now manages the JELD-WEN event.
Jacobsen knows the course well and
was quick to praise—and at the same time
lament—its high degree of difficulty. “It’s
tough, it’s really tough,” said Jacobsen after
18 holes of play in last year’s tournament.
“The rough is just thick enough that when the
ball is sitting down there you can see it, and
it kind of tantalizes you into thinking you can
get to the green, but you can’t.”
“The greens are firm and the approaches
are soft,” continued Jacobsen, noting the
contrast of the lush fairway with the slick
putting surface. “If you carry the ball to the
green from the fairway, it will hit and run to
the back. If you land short, it stops. You’ve got
to hit great iron shots here.”
Perhaps the most nerve-wracking—and
certainly tournament-altering—hole has been
the par four 17th, featuring a narrow fairway
60 PDXmagazine.com / August 2006
Peter Jacobsen
Boasting a history of frantic Sunday finishes and a field stocked with
PGA Tour legends, the JELD-WEN Tradition (jeldwentradition.com) returns
August 21–27 for its fourth year at The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club in
Aloha (4805 SW 229th Ave, 649-8191, reservegolf.com). The Reserve’s South
Course, a 7,196-yard masterpiece designed by Portland native John Fought,
will set the scenic stage for the last major tournament of the 2006 Champions
Tour season.
hugged on the left by a creek and on the right
by a series of sand traps and merciless rough.
This combination of an unforgiving
course and a high level of competition has led
to a perfect storm of Sunday dramatics in each
of the last three years that the Tradition has
called Oregon home.
“I didn’t think I had much of a chance
until the end,” said Loren Roberts after coming
back from three strokes down in the final
two holes to force a playoff and eventually
claim the trophy in 2005.
The 2004 tournament a similar storyline,
with Craig Stadler making four straight birdies
down the stretch to erase a five stroke deficit
while the leaders crumbled around him. “I
never even thought of winning until I got up
to 18,” said “The Walrus” in his post-tournament
press conference. “You’re probably as
surprised as I am.”
And don’t forget about Tom Watson,
who nailed a pressure packed birdie try on 18
to shake off a four-way tie and win the event’s
inaugural championship in 2003.
This year’s tournament will feature
returning champs Roberts, Stadler and Watson,
in addition to the likes of Dana Quigley,
Jim Thorpe and Hale Irwin, and of course,
Jacobsen. The lineup may be set, but if past
years are any indicator, local golf fans can only
expect an unpredictable Sunday finish at the
2006 JELD-WEN Tradition.
Some quotes used in this article were provided courtesy of Oregon
Insider Sports.com.
photos: Steve Dipaola Photography
EVENT DETAILS & SCHEDULE
Monday
Gulfstream Aerospace Am-Am
Gates open 6:30am
All day: Practice rounds
Tuesday
Gulfstream Aerospace Pro-Am
Gates open 6:30am
7am: Gulfstream Pro-Am tee times begin
Wednesday
NIKE GOLF Junior Day
Gates open 7:30am
All day: Practice rounds
10:30am: NIKE GOLF clinic w/ Craig Stadler
11:30am: NIKE GOLF Pitch, Putt & Drive Contest
1:45pm: NIKE GOLF Junior Day Awards
3:30pm: NIKE GOLF Junior Shootout
Thursday
Gates open 7:30am
8:30am: First Championship Round begins
Friday
Gates open 7:30am
8:30am: Second Championship Round begins
Saturday
Umpqua Bank Customer Appreciation Day
Gates open 7:30am
8:30am: Third Championship Round begins
Sunday
Gates open 7:30am
8:30am: Final Championship Round begins
After play: 2006 JELD-WEN Tradition 18th Green
Awards Ceremony
TICKET PRICES & PACKAGES
Available at jeldwentradition.com or 866-503-
2003, and at Umpqua Bank locations.
Mon–Wed: FREE
One Day Tournament ticket (grounds only): $15
Tournament Pass (grounds only): $45
Tournament Pass (clubhouse privileges): $50
Add $5 for tickets purchased at gate.
*Kids 16 & under FREE with ticketed adult
Ticket Packages (not available at gates)
#1 $40 ($100 value)
- One Tournament Pass (grounds only)
- One Tournament Round public parking pass
- $35 worth of McCormick & Schmick’s dining
certificates
*For clubhouse privileges add $5 ($105 value)
#2 $65 ($185 value)
- Two Tournament Passes (grounds only)
- One Tournament Round public parking pass
- $70 worth of McCormick & Schmick’s dining
certificates
- One sleeve of Nike MOJO golf balls
*For clubhouse privileges add $10 ($195 value)