Wake Forest Athletics
Bill Haas to Play in Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic
4/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
April 15, 2002
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Greensboro Jaycees have extended a sponsor exemption for the 2002 Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic to Bill Haas, son of PGA Tour member Jay Haas and a sophomore on the Wake Forest golf team. The invitation was announced by Mark Brazil, Tournament Director of the GGCC, on Monday afternoon.
The Haas father and son duo will compete together in the 2002 Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic, which takes place at Forest Oaks Country Club, April 22-28. Haas received one of eight sponsor exemptions and was the only amateur selected to this year's tournament.
"On behalf of Chrysler and the Greensboro Jaycees, I'm delighted to be able to extend this sponsor exemption to Bill," Brazil said. "He's one of the country's top collegiate golfers, but more importantly he's a first-class individual who comes from a great family. It is our hope that Bill and Jay will have a week to remember and will have a nice Wake Forest crowd supporting them throughout the week."
"This is very exciting, even knowing ahead of time that this was going to happen, I got pretty emotional when the announcement was made," said Jay Haas. "To have a child playing collegiate golf and be good enough to warrant this and for me to be able to play with him is unbelievable. I feel very fortunate for the GGCC to be doing this."
Ryder Cup Captain and good friend of Jay Haas, Curtis Strange said, "It's wonderful for the Jaycees to give Bill the opportunity to compete in a PGA TOUR event. He will do nothing but benefit from the experience of competing with the professionals in Greensboro. I'm sure he and Jay will really enjoy the week together."
Haas has emerged as Wake Forest's top golfer the last two seasons, earning ACC Rookie of the Year and honorable mention All-America honors in 2001. Currently ranked seventh nationally, Haas has led the Demon Deacons in stroke average during his entire WFU career. He has posted eight top-five finishes in 21 career collegiate tournaments, including individual medalist honors at two events this spring. This past weekend Haas finished first at The Intercollegiate in Chapel Hill, N.C. with scores of 65-69-69=203, leading the second-ranked Wake Forest squad to the team title as well.
"I was very surprised and honored to receive the exemption," Haas said. "I've always dreamed of playing in a pro event with my dad. I think it will be a great experience."
The Haas family is synonymous with Wake Forest golf, as Jay Haas was an NCAA individual champion and helped lead the Deacons the national team titles in 1974 and 1975. Jerry Haas, Jay's brother and Bill's uncle, was a four-time All-America for Wake in the mid-1980s and is the current head coach of the WFU squad.
For Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic ticket information, call 1-800-999-5446 or log on to www.ggcc.com.
