NCAA Champion Aaron Wise Accepts Invitation to Safeway Open

Napa, CA (August 31, 2016) – NCAA Champion Aaron Wise has received a sponsor’s exemption to play in the Safeway Open, October 12-16, at Silverado Resort and Spa, it was announced Tuesday at a Media Day news conference that featured World Golf Hall of Fame member and Silverado owner Johnny Miller along with Wise.

Wise not only captured the NCAA individual title, he and the University of Oregon Ducks also won the 2016 NCAA team championship.Wise, 20, of Lake Elsinore, Calif., turned professional this Summer and has been playing on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada where he won the Syncrude Oil Country Championship presented by AECON in his first start. Wise has finished T9, T10, and T15 in the 3 other events he has played on PGA TOUR Canada.

“I’m very thankful for the invitation to play the Safeway Open at Silverado in October,” said Wise. “For years my goal has been to play on the PGA TOUR and this tremendous opportunity will add even more incentive as I work my way toward TOUR membership.”

If Wise can finish in the top 10 at the Safeway Open, he would automatically receive a spot in the PGA TOUR event following the Safeway Open. Players can receive up to seven sponsor invitations in a season.

“Aaron is a great young player and we look forward to watching him compete at the Safeway Open,” said Jeff Sanders, executive director of the Safeway Open. “Extending sponsor’s invitations is a fun part of the job. Young players like Aaron Wise dream of a career on the PGA TOUR and we get to reward their hard work by giving them a shot.”

Wise joins a Safeway Open field that already includes two of the most popular players in the game – Phil Mickelson and Davis Love III, who will be playing at Silverado fresh off their efforts in the 2016 Ryder Cup.

They are part of the week-long festivities at Silverado, featuring the best of Napa Valley food, wine, beer,spiritsand live music … as well as the season-openingtournament on the 2016-17 PGA TOUR schedule. Musically, headline acts to perform Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings on the Silverado Mansion Lawn are X Ambassador, Charles Kelley and Third Eye Blind.

The Safeway Open is managed by the Golf Event Management Division of Lagardère Sports and Entertainment.

For more information on the Safeway Open and to purchase tickets, please visit www.safewayopen.com.