LA QUINTA, Calif. – Franklin American Mortgage Company (FAMC), one of the fastest-growing mortgage companies in the United States, will be a sponsor of the 51st Bob Hope Classic, Jan. 18-24, it was announced.
As a Platinum-level sponsor, Franklin American Mortgage will receive a variety of benefits, including pro-am playing opportunities, tickets, hospitality and signage on multiple platforms at the event, a desert and PGA TOUR tradition since 1960.
“We are delighted to welcome Franklin American Mortgage Company as a sponsor,” said John Foster, Bob Hope Classic president and tournament chairman. “Franklin American is one of the most highly-regarded companies in the mortgage industry and its participation will help the Classic meet its goals for our charitable commitment.”
“We are excited to join the Bob Hope Classic family,” said Dan Crockett, CEO and president of Franklin American Mortgage Company. “The Classic is one of the iconic events on the PGA TOUR and is a wonderful marketing platform for FAMC. We are looking forward with great anticipation to participating in the thrilling events of Classic week.”
Founded in 1993, Franklin American Mortgage Company (FAMC), a privately-held mortgage banking firm headquartered in Franklin, Tenn., is a full-service professional mortgage banker licensed to provide residential mortgages across the nation. FAMC, which provides a host of diverse, flexible mortgage packages for customers with a variety of backgrounds and needs, is committed to helping families and individuals achieve the dream of home ownership through its three divisions: retail, wholesale and correspondent. As one of the fastest growing mortgage companies in the country, FAMC is quickly becoming the preferred lender for consumers and mortgage professionals.
Defending champion Pat Perez and past champions Mark Brooks, Chad Campbell, Joe Durant, David Duval, Charley Hoffman, Justin Leonard and Mike Weir head the early pro entries for the 2010 Classic. Famed musician Kenny G, future baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux, actor/game show host John O’Hurley and actor Kurt Russell are among the initial celebrity athletes and entertainers set to participate.
Other early pro entries include Michael Bradley, Tim Clark, Steve Elkington, Rickie Fowler, Brian Gay, Nathan Green, Paul Goydos, Jerry Kelly, Matt Kuchar, Martin Laird, Jamie Lovemark, Billy Mayfair, La Quinta resident Scott McCarron, Rocco Mediate, Ryan Moore, Kevin Na, Sam Saunders, Michael Sim, Heath Slocum, Brandt Snedeker, David Toms and Bo Van Pelt. Gay, Toms, Na, Kelly, Kuchar, Weir, Clark and Leonard were in the top 30 on the PGA TOUR money list in 2009. Bradley, Gay, Green, Kelly, Kuchar, Laird, Moore, Perez, Slocum and Van Pelt won in 2009 on the PGA TOUR. Fowler is a leading candidate for PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year honors. Saunders is the grandson of five-time Bob Hope Classic champion Arnold Palmer.
Baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra has been named the first-ever “Classic Ambassador.” Berra, who played in the Classic 15 times from 1995-2009, will perform a wide variety of duties on behalf of the 2010 Classic.
Other early celebrity participants for the 2010 Classic include: musicians Alice Cooper, Don Felder (formerly of the Eagles) and Robby Krieger (The Doors), singers Josh Kelley and Clay Walker, actors Anthony Anderson (Law and Order), William Devane (24, The West Wing), Jeffrey Donovan (Burn Notice), Jerry Ferrara (Entourage), Joel Gretsch (V), Oliver Hudson (Rules of Engagement), Kyle MacLachlan (Desperate Housewives), Chris O’Donnell (NCIS: Los Angeles), (Far from Heaven), Stephanie Szostak (The Devil Wears Prada), Patrick Warburton (Seinfeld), actor/comedian Kevin Nealon, comedian Tom Dreesen, Grammy Award-nominated stand-up comic Ron White, television show personality and author Dr. Phil McGraw, former Major League Baseball and National Football League standout Bo Jackson, 2008 American League Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria, former NHL star Jeremy Roenick, former Green Bay Packers wide receiver and NFL analyst Sterling Sharpe, NFL all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith, Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith, and six-time Pro Bowl selection and “Dancing With the Stars” runner-up Jason Taylor. The celebrity field’s schedule is as follows: Wednesday, Jan. 20, SilverRock Resort; Thursday, Jan. 21, La Quinta Country Club; Friday, Jan. 22, Nicklaus Private at PGA WEST; Saturday, Jan. 23, Arnold Palmer Private at PGA WEST.
Practice rounds for the 2010 Classic at all four courses will be conducted Monday, Jan. 18 and Tuesday, Jan. 19. Tournament play begins Wednesday, Jan. 20 and concludes Sunday, Jan. 24 at the Palmer Private at PGA WEST. The five-day Classic features 128 top PGA TOUR professionals and 384 amateur contestants, including 30 celebrities. All five days of the Classic will be televised on Golf Channel. At stake is a purse of $5 million, $900,000 to the winner.
The Classic has taken its fan-friendly experience to a new level. Its new Web site, www.bobhopeclassic.com, is one of many platforms by which fans can more easily gain information about, and purchase tickets for, the 2010 Classic.
Along with the new Web site, fans can follow pre-tournament and tournament-week action on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/BobHopeClassic) and on Twitter (@bobhopeclassic). There, fans can not only catch up on Classic news and see exclusive celebrity photos and quotes from the always-popular Pro-Am, but enter a variety of contests for the chance to win Bob Hope Classic tickets and other tournament prizes. From a haiku contest to photo caption contests to trivia, fans have a multitude of chances to win.
In 50 years, the Classic has donated more than $47 million to charities throughout the Coachella Valley. For more information, go to www.bobhopeclassic.com or call 1.888.MRBHOPE (672.4673).
For more information about the Franklin American Mortgage and its services, please go to www.franklinamerican.com.
Contact:
Toby Zwikel
(818) 462-5599
Pat Bennett
(760) 346-8184
