Epicor® Sponsors Five Professional Golfers for 2011 Season
Similar to its Own Business, Epicor's Sponsorships Span the World,
Encompassing the PGA and European Golf Tours
Epicor is proud to be sponsoring five young golfers for the 2011 season, Bill Lunde, Scott Piercy, Chez Reavie, Brendan Steele and Dale Whitnell. While still early in their professional careers, each has already demonstrated the ability to compete and win at the highest level. This is the second consecutive year of Epicor sponsorship for Piercy, Reavie and Whitnell. Gaylord Sports Management represents each of the five golfers.
“We are thrilled to be sponsoring these five exciting professional golfers in 2011,” said John Hiraoka, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Epicor. “Each of these players shares our commitment to excellence, hard work and to being the best at what they do. We look forward to following their performance this year and to their success on the PGA and European Golf tours.”
This is a unique opportunity for Epicor to support a group of talented young players as their professional careers are taking off. Lunde, Piercy, Reavie and Steele are all from the West Coast near Epicor’s global headquarters. Whitnell, a former Walker Cupper, who is set to play on the European Challenge Tour will provide visibility for Epicor’s brand abroad. These emerging stars have everything it takes to not just compete every week against the best players in the world, but to win.
About Bill Lunde (PGA)
Born in San Diego, California, Lunde was selling real estate in Las Vegas five years ago, where he had attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and was a part of the Running Rebels' 1998 NCAA title team. 2011 marks his third year on the PGA Tour, returning as a winner after taking a one-stroke win at the Turning Stone Resort Championship (a tournament no longer on the PGA Tour schedule). Named one of the Top 100 players to watch in 2011, Lunde’s FedExCup Standing is currently 64th.
About Scott Piercy (PGA)
Born in Las Vegas Nevada in 1978, Piercy turned professional in 2001. Scott played on various mini-tours before becoming a Nationwide Tour member in 2008. He won the $2 million “Ultimate Game” in Las Vegas. Shooting five under on the back nine to overcome a three shot deficit and win by two. He earned his maiden Nationwide Tour victory in Wichita with tournament record, 22-under 262. Also set 36-hole (126, 16-under) and 54-hole (191, 22-under) tournament records. He then won for the second time in three weeks, at the Northeast Pennsylvania Classic, coming from four strokes back to win by two on the strength of a final-round 64. Shot a course record 61 in the final round of the Boise Open to finish second and move him to third on the money list. He finished ninth on the money list to earn PGA Tour playing rights for 2009. Scott’s PGA Tour career began well with five top twenty finishes in his first six starts, and this run of form elevated him into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings in March 2009. Scott finished the season ranked 90th on the money list and retained his tour card for 2010. In August 2011, Scott Piercy won his first PGA Tour win at the Reno-Tahoe Open.
About Chez Reavie (PGA)
Born in Wichita, Kansas in 1981, Chez won the 2003 U.S. Public Links during his three-time All-America career at Arizona State. Chez joined the Nationwide Tour in 2006, made the cut in his first 15 starts and finished in the top 25 eight times. After five placements of 13th or better in his first 12 events of 2007, Chez won the Knoxville Open and finished 18th on the money list on the Nationwide Tour to earn his card for 2008. He tied for 5th at the 2008 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, closing with a 65 to equal day’s best score and move up 12 places for his first top-10 of his PGA Tour career winning $186,150; his previous largest check was $85, 000 in win at Nashville on ’07 Nationwide Tour. On July 27, 2008, Reavie won the 2008 RBC Canadian Open. The win, his first on the PGA Tour, earned him $900,000 and a two-year exemption on the Tour. A knee injured in high school and never repaired came back to haunt Chez early in 2010. He missed nine of 15 cuts through May before a second meniscus tear was discovered. Rather than incur further damage he underwent surgery on June 1 and spent the rest of the season rehabilitating the knee and did not compete again. He will play the 2011 season on a major medical exemption.
About Brendan Steele (PGA)
Born in Idyllwild, California in 1983, Steele was a star at UC-Riverside despite growing up in a small mountain town without golf course or range. Steele played California mini-tours his first year as a pro and then had three top-10s in each of his two years on the Canadian Tour. Gained conditional status for the 2008 season and made 11 of the last 16 cuts with his first top-10 with a 19-under week at the Price Cutter Charity Championship. He earned full status on the Nationwide Tour in 2010 thanks to a great performance at the 2009 final stage of Q-School.
About Dale Whitnell (European Tour)
Born in Colchester, England in 1988, Dale is one of the brightest young stars to emerge from English Golf. He has ended his amateur Career as the top golfer in England by Winning the EGU Order of Merit. Dale was a key member of the England team with an incredible success rate and participated at the very highest level of international amateur competition. Dale competed as an amateur in the European Tour Qualifying School in 2008 making it all the way to finals to earn a spot on the Challenge Tour. Dale decided to turn down the opportunity and stayed an amateur, with the goal of making the 2009 Walker Cup Team. Dale achieved his goal and after a stellar final season as an amateur, was named to the Walker Cup Team which faced the USA at Merion in September. Although not the success the Team had hoped for it was a valuable experience for Dale and something that will help him cope with the pressures associated with Professional Golf. Dale is hardworking, and incredibly driven to succeed. This coupled with his talent for the game make him poised for success at the next level.