Youth Foundation Pro-am Benefits Various Charities
.Some 92 golfers took part in the 2015 New Jersey State Golf Association Youth Foundation Pro-Am, conducted at Rockaway River Country Club in West Orange, site of the 95th State Open on Monday, July 13.
The pro-am benefitted charities from around the state. The highlight of the Pro-Am on Monday was the presentation of check of $5,000 by the NJSGA Youth Foundation to Team Zoey, the official designated charity of Rockaway River C.C. Team Zoey is the New Jersey Chapter of the Progeria Research Foundation. Team Zoey is named after Zoey Aster Penny, who was born in September, 2009, with progeria, a very rare and still fatal accelerated aging disease.
Monday’s event attracted 23 foursomes who were able to play on the same course on which 135 pros and amateurs will tee it off for the State Open, sponsored by Lincoln Motor Company, which takes place Tuesday through Thursday, July 15-17.
The 95th State Open Championship marks the second time RRCC has hosted the Open, 1969 being the only other time when legendary Babe Lichardus won.
The Youth Foundation Pro-Am was a four-player team event and the format was Best Ball of Four, net scoring. Teams were formed of three amateurs and one professional. There was both a team competition and individual Professionals´ competition.
In 2014, the Youth Foundation Pro-Am benefited, among others, the Mountain Top League of West Orange, the John Shippen Youth Golf Academy, the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association to sponsor the state high school championships and provide scholarships to a boy and a girl golfer; LPGA/USGA Girls Golf of Greater Newark, and the First Tee programs of Essex County, Raritan Valley and Plainfield.
The NJSGA Youth Foundation supports deserving youth golf and sports-related programs throughout the State of New Jersey. This support is provided through grants, instructional clinics, and recognition through NJSGA publications and events.
The Youth Foundation also conducted a raffle with a top prize of an all-expense paid golf trip for four to Bandon Dunes Resort in Bandon, Ore. The first-place prize went to Greg Peterson. The raffle raised $22,000 for the NJSGA Youth Foundation.
Other raffle prizes include a full set of Callaway irons, four tickets to the upcoming Barclays tournament at exclusive Plainfield Country Club, a club fitting courtesy of Club Champion Golf, and Odyssey putter, or a Peter Millar cashmere sweater.
“This is an opportunity for us to make an impact on various youth organizations throughout the state,” said NJSGA president Frank O’Brien. “This is our largest fund raiser of the year and we are extremely appreciative of the people who participate and thank them for their long-time support.
“It’s also an opportunity to renew old friendships. We are also thankful of the golf professionals who give of their time to make this a memorable day for the amateur participants,” O’Brien stated.
The NJSGA thanks Lincoln Motor Company and Golf Car Specialties, sponsor of the awards reception.
