Mattiace commits to hometown Jacksonville Open

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open presented by Planters Executive Director Jeff Sanders announced Friday that two-time PGA TOUR winner and popular Jacksonville resident Len Mattiace has accepted an invitation to join the field at next week's tournament. Mattiace has split his time this year between the PGA TOUR and the Nationwide Tour.

Mattiace

"Len is a proven winner, and we are excited to have him competing in our first-year event," said Sanders. "We know he has a large local following, and his participation gives fans one more great reason to come out and support the charities that benefit from the tournament."

Mattiace's two wins on the PGA TOUR came at the 2002 Nissan Open and at the 2002 FedEx St. Jude Classic. He also made it to a playoff at the 2003 Masters, eventually finishing runner-up to Mike Weir. In addition, he has four top-10 and 13 top-25 career finishes on the Nationwide Tour. In all, he has career earnings of nearly $7 million.

Mattiace, who celebrates his 43rd birthday today, joins a field that also includes past PGA TOUR winners Jason Gore, Mark Hensby, Frank Lickliter (of Ponte Vedra Beach), Steve Pate and Kirk Triplett. Additionally, the top 90 players on the Nationwide Tour money list and 95 of the top 100 are entered in the tournament.

In addition to Mattiace and Lickliter, other golfers in the field with local connections include Jeff Klauk of St. Augustine, Chris Kirk of St. Simons Island, Ga. (the Nationwide Tour's second leading money winner), Bubba Dickerson of Hilliard, Bobby Gates of Gainesville and Jonas Blixt, a 2008 FSU grad.

"It's great to have another first-class golf event here at home, and I appreciate the chance to be a part of it," Mattiace said. "I am looking forward to playing in front of friends and family and to be able to contribute to the tournament's effort to give back to the community."

More than 200 local non-profit organizations have the potential to benefit from Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open presented by Planters through the PepsiCo TICKETS Fore CHARITY? program. Non-profit organizations taking part in the PepsiCo TICKETS Fore CHARITY program sell tournament tickets and keep 100 percent of the sales they generate. Weekly tickets are available now at www.winndixiejacksonvilleopen.com, and both weekly and daily tickets will be available at the gate. All active and retired military and dependents are allowed admission to the tournament by showing a valid military ID at the gate.

The first annual Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open presented by Planters is Oct. 21-24 at TPC Sawgrass Dye's Valley. Tournament week festivities kick off Monday, Oct. 18, at 5 p.m. with the Florida Times-Union Junior Clinic presented by Powerade.