They say it comes down to who you know.
Well, the Tucson Conquistadores are very thankful that they know professional golfer Jerry Kelly.
Nearly everything that is new this year for the Cologuard Classic, which is this week at Tucson National Golf Club, stems from their relationship with Kelly.
It all starts with the name: Cologuard Classic.
An ambassador for Cologuard, the first at-home noninvasive screening test for colorectal cancer, Kelly put the word in with Exact Sciences, the company behind the product, that this Tucson PGA Tour Champions event might be a good place for a sponsorship. Kelly and Exact Sciences are both based in Madison, Wisconsin.
The company signed on for three years, giving the Conquistadores their first title sponsor for the three-year old event.
“To have a player like Jerry recommend and endorse our event to a title sponsor, meant a lot to us,” said Judy McDermott, executive director of the Conquistadores. “For us, it’s a nice vote of confidence.”
The Conquistadores and their volunteers have had less than 100 days to get all the new activities and signage set up. They say they’re happy with all the changes.
The new title sponsor is only the beginning.
Wednesday morning, Tucson will be the center of the financial world. Exact Sciences is ringing the NASDAQ bell near the 16th green, and the broadcast will be beamed through a satellite around the country.
Friday is National Colon Cancer Dress in Blue Day, so the Cologuard Classic is encouraging all golfers, caddies, spectators, volunteers and Conquistadores to wear blue. The event is designed to bring awareness and celebrate those fighting the disease.
Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer people face, behind lung cancer. Cologuard helps with early detection, and Exact Sciences says it hopes to help eradicate the disease.
Friday also marks the advent of the 50/50 hole-in-one challenge. If a golfer scores a hole-in-one on No. 16, Exact Sciences will donate $50,000 to the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation and another $50,000 to the First Tee of Tucson.
The tournament already has a Wisconsin theme, and some player appearances Wednesday and Thursday will drive it home.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will play in the Jose Cuervo Pro-Am on Wednesday and Thursday. Rodgers will be pairing up with Kelly. They recently played together at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
The Conquistadores’ pro-am will also feature Trevor Hoffman, the former Arizona Wildcats standout who was recently elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame, new UA football coach Kevin Sumlin, university president Robert Robbins and athletic director Dave Heeke. More sports celebrities are certain to show up.
Two professionals who played in the old Tucson Open return this year to play in their first PGA Tour Champions event in Tucson. John Daly and Jose Maria Olazabal figure to be among the most popular golfers in the Cologuard Classic.
Friday’s first round will feature an official tee-off at 10 a.m. and a flyover from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The tournament’s annual 5K run/walk has been moved to Sunday, and participants are encouraged to stay and watch the final round of competition.
