(Grand Rapids, Michigan)—Two of the top names in women’s amateur golf in Michigan have agreed to return to captain the competing sides in the Founders Trust Challenge this summer in west Michigan.
Michigan State University women’s golf coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll and Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member Joan Garety will lead public and private course teams August 5-6 in the event at The Meadows Golf Club in Allendale and Egypt Valley Country Club in Ada. The FTC began last year for 24 amateur golfers competing in a Ryder Cup-style competition. The public course team won the inaugural event under Slobodnik-Stoll, who expects this year’s event to match the success of the first-year competition.
"The Founders Trust Challenge had a great turnout of players, and we got the jump on the first day. But the roster of players on both sides was impressive and all of us who took part felt it was first-class event that should get better every year," said Stacy.
Joan Garety agreed with her friend and competitor’s assessment. "The women from the public team got off to a big lead the first day and we just couldn’t catch them," said the former Michigan State golf star. "But all of us are eager for another shot at them and I’m delighted to be back as captain. We’ll hope for a better result this time!"
Founders Trust Personal Bank of Grand Rapids is the presenting sponsor of the event, which garnered a large amount of attention from the public and the media in 2005. "We were delighted by the ways the players, the media and public embraced this competition," said Laurie Beard, president and chief executive officer of Founders Trust. "The play last year was fantastic and we enjoyed our association with the women who took part." The event drew a large number of leading amateur players in west Michigan as well as a strong contingent of college players from such schools as Michigan State, Michigan, Louisville, Northwestern, Toledo, Western Michigan, Augusta State, Grand Valley and Ferris State. In addition to veteran amateur players from the Grand Rapids area, the Founders Trust Challenge also attracted several high school stars, including Laura Kueny of Whitehall, the top prep golfer in the state last season. Kueny wowed the second-day gallery with her eagle-birdie finish to earn a halve in her singles match at Egypt Valley. "Laura’s really an impressive player," said Joan Garety. "It’s personally very gratifying to see young players like her emerging every year from this area."
The Founders Trust Challenge received a big boost from its other sponsors last year, including event clothier Fairway and Greene, as well as Grand Rapids-based international direct sales giant Alticor. "The event was an eye-opener for us," said Tom VanHaaren of Fairway and Greene. "The quality of play was fantastic and we were delighted to be part of a women’s event in this hotbed of amateur golf."
This year’s event will begin on August 5 on the campus of Grand Valley State University at The Meadows with six better-ball matches between the two teams. It concludes the following day at Egypt Valley with twelve singles matches.
Contact:
Tom Cleary
All About Golf
(616) 915-4267
tjcleary@aol.com
Terry Moore
All About Golf
(616) 247-1931
tmoore@usxchange.net
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