MAZATLAN, Mexico - When John Ellis dominated the 2008 Canadian Tour season and captured the Order of Merit to go along with his three titles, it seemed a foregone conclusion that he would advance to the Nationwide, or perhaps the PGA TOUR, for 2009.

Qualifying School being the minefield it is, however, Ellis couldn't take advantage of his free pass into second stage and his dream was delayed.

It wasn't supposed to happen this way. Still, the San Jose, Calif., native didn't mind talking about that and the pathway that led him there.

"I was fortunate that our home was right beside a golf course," said Ellis. My dad played all the time and I would chase him around and then caddy for him as I got a little older."

Like most children growing up, he played various sports well into high school; a point guard in basketball and a pitcher/shortstop in baseball, Ellis soon realized that golf was his game.

"I played the various California Junior events and what I really liked about golf was that you are always in the center of the action," he said. "In basketball you are pretty involved but I that that my height (5'11) would allow me to go only so far.

"Baseball is different in that, unless you are the pitcher, you spend a lot of time just standing around waiting for something to happen.

"With golf, you are always the action. I'm very competitive and with golf, you compete against yourself and your game, others players, and the golf course itself. Every golf shot and situation is different whereas in baseball, you don't have that."

He led the Live Oak Acorns to state championships in 1995, 1997 and 1998, and was a four-time all-Monterey Bay League first-team selection during his high school career.

Continuing to climb the California Junior circuit ladder, Ellis was named the Northern California Golf Association Junior Golfer of the Year in 1997 when he won seven titles and finished second in another six. The colleges started calling.

However, there was a roadblock. "I worked so hard in high school to play college golf and the academics kind of disappeared there," Ellis said at the time. "It was frustrating to have to go to junior college because of that, but it taught me a lesson, that's for sure."
He ended up at Gavilan Community College in nearby Gilroy to spruce up his grades but any worries that the colleges would forget about him were quickly put aside.
Ellis continued to dominate the amateur circuit, was ranked #2 in ultra-competitive Northern California, and qualified for the 2000 U.S. Amateur. Both Arizona State and Arizona knocked at his door as did San Jose State and the University of Oregon. He chose the Pacific Northwest.
"I went up to the University of Oregon on a recruiting trip and they offered me a full scholarship whereas the other schools didn't," explained Ellis, of his decision. "My parents didn't have a ton of money so they were obviously very happy. That, and the fact that I would be competing in the PAC-10 made it a no-brainer. I always wanted to play for a PAC-10 school."

After his year of penance at Gavilan, Ellis made an immediate impact at Oregon with three top ten finishes and a victory at the Husky Invitational his sophomore season followed by another title in 2003. He turned pro after graduation and in early 2004, Monday qualified for the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, grabbing one of four spots in a 120-man field.

Gaining professional experience on the mini-tours, Ellis joined the Canadian Tour in 2005 and also won the prestigious California Open where he defeated a field littered with former PGA TOUR players.

After steadily progressing up the Order of Merit, he made his mark in 2007 with two runner-up finishes – including a playoff loss at hometown San Jose – and two other top tens.

His 2008 season was one of the best in the book. Starting with a T-8 at Modesto, he won back-to-back at Stockton and the Mexican PGA where he opened with a 62.

After three more top tens and a trip to the U.S. Open where he barely missed the cut, Ellis captured the TELUS Edmonton Open for his third title of the season.

Although the winning stopped, he was – except for a missed cut in Montreal – always the man to beat; picking up two runner-ups and never finishing outside the top ten all season.

Winning the Order of Merit, Ellis bypassed first stage of Q-School and was ready to say goodbye to the Canadian Tour. It didn't happen.

"I was devastated and really down for a long time," said Ellis. "I played so well all year and had little doubt that I would be moving up. I don't really know what happened or how to explain other than to say that I simply didn't get the job done."

How did he get past it?

"I'm still working on it," he answered wistfully. "In some ways I felt like the whole season was a waste because of what happened at Q-School. For a while, I wasn't sure I was coming back or that I even wanted to play golf anymore. I didn't really have a plan for this year because I was so down about it. It's been very difficult but making the cut at Pebble Beach in February helped some."

His goals this year are nebulous. "I really don't know," he admits. "I'm going to play the Canadian Tour and also try and Monday qualify for a few Nationwide Tour events. I'm just going to let the year unfold and play the best golf I can. Hopefully I can have a year like I did last year but with a different result at Q-School."

Given his refusal to give up, it's likely to happen. 

Getting Personal with John Ellis

Pet Peeve: Watching a ball land and then losing it
Worst Habit: Impatience
Strength: Personable
Weakness: Fiancé says I am lazy around the house
Siblings: Younger brother and sister
Golf Course: Harding Park, San Francisco
Major: U.S. Open
Food: Real Italian Ravioli
Drink: Sprite
Movie: Shawshank Redemption
Book: The Secret
If Not For Golf: Sports Agent
Music: Anything but opera
Hobbies: Poker, fiancé
Place to Visit: New York City
Nickname: J.E.
Guilty Pleasure: Dessert
Dream Foursome: Dad, grandfather, brother
Color: Oregon Duck Green
Motto: Never Give Up