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43 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, January 27, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 19, 2004 Allred looks forward to PGA journey RVCC to host reception today for Ashland golfer who begins play in January By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune The words rolled from Jason Allred’s mouth. Still, they didn’t seem real. He was thinking ahead to his next golf tournament. "Ernie Els won it the last two years," said Allred of the Sony Open next month in Hawaii. "I guess I’ll have to contend with him." If ever there was a mouthful for the 24-year-old Ashland native, who is about to embark on his dream job, that was it. Allred made the 2005 PGA Tour by negotiating three stages of qualifying, including a grueling, six-day final tournament that featured 170 players. Some were off minitours, some were PGA veterans, all had the same intention. Advertisement Allred placed 13th, punctuating his achievement with a 35-foot birdie putt on the final hole Dec. 6 at the PGA West Stadium Course in La Quinta, Calif. However, before going to Honolulu, the 1998 Ashland High graduate will return to the Rogue Valley today with his wife, Kimberly. He’ll be the guest of honor at a reception at Rogue Valley Country Club from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Allred first made a name for himself as a junior golfer at the club. He then shot back-to-back, competitive-course-record scores of 64 in the Southern Oregon Conference district tournament his senior year at Ashland High. Later, while in the midst of an All-American career at Pepperdine, Allred returned to win club championships in 2000-01. "Part of the reason I’m so excited to come back home for a couple of days is it seems like just yesterday I was a little rascal running around at Rogue Valley Country Club," says Allred, who lives in Scottsdale, Ariz. "It’ll be great to spend time with those people who have cheered me on since my junior days. It goes by fast." He may not have much time to reflect because it’s so enticing to look ahead. The fact he earned his PGA card sinks in a little more each day, says Allred. But he’s not above bouts of spontaneous glee. "My wife could tell you that at certain times throughout the day," he says, "I might go, ‘Guess what, Honey, you know what we get to do for the next year?’ It’s so much fun." Allred’s indoctrination to the PGA Tour began soon after he qualified. For 1½ days after qualifying, players went through seminars that outlined what they could expect on tour: setting tournament schedules, making travel arrangements, retirement and health- care plans, how much to tip locker room attendants, how much fines are for bad behavior, etc. Allred could not have been more impressed with the PGA and its presentation. "Throughout the seminar, they showed video clips of things we’ll get to experience next year," he says. "It’s exciting to know we’ll be on the best golf tour in the world with the best players. And that’s something they want us to take a lot of pride in and understand." Allred has been preparing for this stage of his career for a long time. His coach is Butch Harmon, regarded as one of the best in the game, and Allred regards one of Harmon’s assistants, Greg La Belle, as a mentor. Allred is represented by agent Lynn Roach, whose other clients include Fred Couples, Stewart Cink, Jay Haas and Jeff Sluman. It was through Roach, with whom Allred signed out of college, that the young player was able to build a relationship with Harmon. "He’s (Harmon) been great to me, and he’s been so supportive," says Allred, who meets with Harmon every few months. "To this point, he’s given his time to me. He hasn’t charged me. He’s put a lot of belief in me and has invested time in me because he thinks I have the potential to make it on tour. "Hopefully, I can return the favor to him when I can afford to." La Belle has served as a confidant as well as an instructor. Allred speaks with him weekly, and during qualifying school, talked with him daily about managing his way around the course and preparing to win. Dick Christie, nicknamed "The Judge" by PGA members, will be Allred’s caddie. The 20-year tour veteran, who has worked for Larry Nelson, Fred Funk and Bill Glasson, looped for Allred at Q-school. Although he’s fully exempt next year, Allred won’t get into all the tournaments. Fields vary from about 130 to 150 players, yet the pool of eligible golfers is much larger. First in line are the top 125 players on last season’s PGA money list. Then there are 36 players who earned their cards through Q-school and another 20 up from the Nationwide Tour. Other spots go to Europeans with high world rankings, former Ryder Cup players, past champions and those with sponsors exemptions. Allred expects to get into at least three of the first eight events. Those such as the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and the FBR Open just a couple miles from his home follow the Sony, but they are popular and have small fields. Allred is writing to tournament directors, telling them of his interest in playing and that he’d willingly participate in junior clinics or community activities. After the eighth and final event of the West Coast swing, the Chrysler Classic of Tucson, Ariz., Feb. 26-29, the pecking order for entry into events will be redone based on earnings. "The biggest step was getting through Q-school," says Allred, "but I still need to keep playing well to work my way up." At the least, he figures to play in 20 tournaments; more if he plays to a level he expects of himself. To keep his card, he’d have to be in the top 125 in earnings. The approach he and La Belle have come up with is simple. "All I can ever ask for is a chance to win with nine holes to go on Sunday," says Allred. "If I do that a few times, keeping my card and other things like that will take care of themselves. If we give ourselves enough chances, good things will happen." Then maybe Els will have to contend with him. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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