Name: JAVIER SANCHEZ

Birthdate: January 11, 1959

Birth Place: Taistan, Mexico

Age: 50 Ht.: 5'7" Wt.: 165

Home: Greensboro, Ga.

College: Redwood City J.C.

Turned Professional: 1990

Player Notes: Sanchez comes from a farm town in Mexico, where his closest neighbor was 2 miles away. He had an uncle living in Redwood City, Calif., who wanted him to visit when he was 17 years old. Because he couldn't come over legally, he was forced to pay $50 to another Mexican to get across the border, and then, since he was already in the U.S., he decided to stay. He became an American citizen and took up golf when he was 21 years old…The restaurant owner he worked for took over a restaurant at Palo Alto Golf Club. Sanchez became the cook at the restaurant and got interested in golf by watching all of his customers play and talk about golf. For $150, he bought a set of clubs and started to play the game. He moved to Fayetteville, Ga., when he got a job at a driving range and, like Lee Trevino, found a sponsor. Sanchez' sponsor was Earl Tolbert, who owned the driving range and gave him money to play on the T.C. Jordan Tour. His big thrill came in 1993 when he was playing in a tournament in St. Louis, Mo., and got a phone call from the USGA that Billy Ray Brown was withdrawing from the U.S. Open and that Sanchez was the first alternate. He hopped on a plane to New Jersey, arriving at 1:30 Thursday morning; less than 12 hours later, he was playing in the U.S. Open without even seeing Baltusrol. He missed the cut, but still it was a dream come true. This year will be his fifth Open. Has tried to qualify for the PGA Tour every year since 1994 and got a conditional card for the Nike Tour in 1995. Played on that Tour in 1996, best finish - in 14 starts, 2nd in St. Louis Golf Classic. In 1997 made 11 starts, best finish - T8th in Nike Richmond Open. Earned the right to open qualify for Champions Tour in 2009 by finishing T20th at 2008 National Qualifying Tournament. Was one of the Sunbelt Senior Tour's leading players in 2008, winning three times. Has played a total of five U.S. Open's making the cut in 1996 and finishing T90th. Played 38 events in his career on Nationwide Tour. Lost in a playoff to Tim Conley at the 1996 Gateway Classic.