Tournament has raised more than $1.7 million in three year history

2009 Frys.com open raises $670,500 for charity

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Fry’s Electronics Executive Vice President and co-founder Kathy Kolder announced today that the 2009 Frys.com Open, an official event on the PGA TOUR, raised a total of $670,500 from tournament proceeds which will be distributed to a number of designated charities.

“The 2009 edition of the Frys.com Open was absolutely fantastic,” Kolder said.  “We had an exciting finish and have a great champion in Troy Matteson.  We couldn’t have asked for a better week and we are thrilled that we exceeded our charitable contribution from last year.”

The tournament raised $600,000 in 2008, and in its three year history has raised more than $1.7 million for charity.

A majority of the money has already been earmarked for specific charities.  The American Institute of Mathematics (AIM), a Palo Alto, Calif.-based organization whose chief goal is to expand the frontiers of mathematical knowledge by funding focused research projects, conferences and the development of an on-line mathematics library, will receive $305,000.  Thunderbirds Charities, the non-profit arm of The Thunderbirds, will receive $150,000; while $100,000 will be donated to Kirk Triplett’s Fore Adoption Foundation.

Other beneficiaries include the World Golf Foundation ($50,000), Helping Hands Housing Services ($25,000), the Boys and Girls Club of Scottsdale ($10,000), St. Mary’s Food Bank ($10,000) and the Southwest Section PGA Foundation ($10,000).  The remaining $10,500 will be distributed to other local Valley charities.

This was the second straight year the Frys.com Open was decided in a playoff.  Matteson set a new PGA TOUR 36-hole scoring record with consecutive 9-under 61’s in the second and third rounds, and held off young guns Rickie Fowler and Jamie Lovemark with a birdie on the second playoff hole to earn his second career PGA TOUR victory (his first win came in the 2006 Frys.com Open in Las Vegas).