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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2016
Field Notes for April 19, 2016
Coming to San Antonio Hot: Branden Grace, who won the RBC Heritage Sunday and moved to No. 11 in the world rankings, is in the field. The PGA TOUR win last week was a career first for the South African. This marks the second consecutive time the winner of the tournament prior to the VTO has been in the field. Last year, Matt Every competed after winning in Orlando.
Coming in Hot Part II: Including winner Branden Grace, 11 players who finished either tied or solo among spots in the top ten on Sunday at Hilton Head are in the field. They include Luke Donald (T2), Bryson DeChambeau (T4), Bryce Molder (T6), Whee Kim (T6), Jason Kokrak (T6), Ricky Barnes (T9), Aaron Baddley (T9), William McGirt (T9), Kevin Chappell (T9) and Matt Kuchar (T9).
World Rankings: There is a strong group of players among the top 30 in the world competing this week, including No.11 Branden Grace, No. 13 Patrick Reed, No. 16 Brandt Snedeker, No. 17 Zach Johnson, No. 18 Brooks Koepka, No. 19 Phil Mickelson, No. 21 J.B. Holmes, No. 26 Jimmy Walker and No. 27 Matt Kuchar.
Texas Collegiate Connections: There are 17 players in the field who have college connections with the state of Texas and include: Baylor University – Jimmy Walker; University of Houston – Curtis Reed; Lamar University – Chris Stroud; Southern Methodist University – Colt Knost, Kelly Kraft, Bryson DeChambeau; TCU – J.J. Henry, Tom Hoge, Robby Ormand; Texas Lutheran University – Cameron Beckman; Texas A&M – Ryan Palmer, Bronson Burgoon, Martin Piller; University of Texas – Justin Leonard, Jhonattan Vegas, Omar Uresti; University of Texas Arlington – Paul McConnell.
FedExCup Champions: Two former FedExCup champions: Brandt Snedeker (2012) and Billy Horschel (2014) are in the field.
DeChambeau Exemption: Prior to his top-ten finish in Hilton Head on Sunday, Bryson DeChambeau had received a sponsor exemption to the VTO, his second start as professional. With his top ten finish Sunday, he qualified for the tournament via that performance. His exemption was then given to Curtis Reed, who attended the University of Houston and lives in nearby Castroville, TX.
Past Champions: Zach Johnson, the 2008 and 2009 Valero Texas Open champion and winner of last year’s Open Championship, is one of six past champions returning, including Jimmy Walker (2015), Ben Curtis (2012), Brendan Steele (2011), Zach Johnson (2008, 2009), Justin Leonard (2000, 2001, 2007) and Tim Herron (1997).
Monday Qualifiers: For the first time, the Monday Open Qualifier was held onsite at the Valero Texas Open on the adjacent TPC Canyons Course. Robby Ormand and David Mathis shot 66 to share medalist honors. Paul McConnell and Brett Wetterich tied at 67 for the last two of the final four spots into the field.
International Flavor: There are 19 different countries represented in the field of 156 players this week. Here they are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, USA, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
ABOUT VALERO
Valero Energy Corporation, through its subsidiaries (collectively, Valero), is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products, and sells its products primarily in the United States (U.S.), Canada, the United Kingdom (U.K.), Ireland and Latin America. Valero owns 15 petroleum refineries located in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.2 million barrels per day. Valero is a joint venture member in Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC, which owns two renewable diesel plants located in the U.S. Gulf Coast region with a combined production capacity of approximately 1.2 billion gallons per year, and Valero owns 12 ethanol plants located in the U.S. Mid-Continent region with a combined production capacity of approximately 1.6 billion gallons per year. Valero manages its operations through its Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol segments. Please visit investorvalero.com for more information.
ABOUT VALERO IN THE COMMUNITY
Valero Energy Corporation, through its subsidiaries (collectively, Valero), and the Valero Energy Foundation are committed to improving the quality of life in communities where Valero has major operations. In 2023, Valero, its employees and the foundation collectively generated more than $77 million in charitable support through direct/in-kind donations, fundraising and volunteerism. Valero employees logged more than 127,000 volunteer hours in 2023 for hundreds of projects in their communities. Valero provides funding to a variety of nonprofit agencies for programs and services supporting education, basic needs, health care and civic initiatives. Through the overwhelming support of sponsors, the foundation’s signature programs, the Valero Texas Open and Benefit for Children, generated more than $23 million raised in 2023 for charities across the United States.
ABOUT THE VALERO TEXAS OPEN
The Valero Texas Open is the sixth-oldest professional tournament in golf worldwide, the third-oldest on the PGA TOUR and the longest held in the same city. In 2022, the tournament celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Its list of champions includes some of the greatest names in golf history: Walter Hagen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin, Lee Trevino, Nick Price, Justin Leonard, Zach Johnson, Adam Scott, Jimmy Walker, Jordan Spieth and 2019, 2023 champion Corey Conners to name a few.
Since Valero became title sponsor in 2002, the tournament has become a leader in charitable fundraising among PGA TOUR events. The Valero Texas Open, together with its Benefit for Children and Champions fore Charity initiatives, has contributed more than $232 million to hundreds of worthy charities since inception. Please visit www.ValeroTexasOpen.com for more information.
Media Contacts
Stephanie Sage
Valero Texas Open
Director, Marketing & Community Relations
210.345.3839 office
Lee Patterson
Valero Texas Open
Director, Media Relations
704.913.1088 mobile
