September 29, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday announced today that more than $65,000 was raised during the second annual Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer Celebrity Golf Tournament and Gala held August 29, 2009. Since starting the prostate education and research campaign in 2008, the Myrtle Beach golf community has helped raised more than $205,000 for the Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer and ZERO – the Project to End Prostate Cancer campaigns.
The day began with an 18-hole celebrity golf tournament at The Long Bay Club in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. with each participant having the opportunity to play golf with one of the celebrities who traveled to Myrtle Beach to help fight prostate cancer. After golf, participants headed to Kingston Plantation in North Myrtle Beach for the Gala for dinner, entertainment and the opportunity to bid on sports memorabilia during a silent auction.
Honorary spokesperson, and Syracuse University head basketball coach, Jim Boeheim was on hand at the golf tournament and gala where he was joined by entertainment personalities and former professional athletes including actor Craig T. Nelson, well known for his role on the television show “Coach”; Bobby Cremins, current College of Charleston head basketball coach who also led the Georgia Tech program for 19 years; former member of the Big Red Machine and an 11-year Major League Baseball veteran, Doug Flynn; former Yankees catcher Rick Cerone; Dan Hampton, a 12-year member of the Chicago Bears and a 2001 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee; GOLF Channel personality Charlie Rymer; Ewa Mataya Laurance, 2008 World Trick Shot champion and World 9-Ball champion; ESPN billiards commentator and prostate cancer survivor Mitch Laurance; world-renowned saxophonist Branford Marsalis; Wes Matthews, a member of the 1986 and 1987 Los Angeles Lakers World Championship teams; and Tony Womack, a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2001 World Championship team.
During the 2009 PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship, held in Myrtle Beach during the week of August 31 – September 4, more than $4,500 was donated by participating golfers to benefit the prostate cancer campaigns. Each night at the World Am’s 19th Hole, golfers participated in closest-to-the pin simulator contests and purchased tickets to play billiards against World 9-Ball champion, Ewa Laurance. Golfers who defeated Laurance received PGA TOUR Superstore gift cards and were registered to free entry into the 2010 World Am with the winner will be announced later in the fall.
“The entire Myrtle Beach golf community has eagerly embraced the Know Your Score campaign to help raise money for prostate cancer research and spread the word about the importance of early detection,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “When we started working with ZERO in 2008, we set a goal of raising $250,000 for the battle against prostate cancer. We still have a few events planned in 2009 and hope to exceed our goal.”
“Many golfers are at risk for prostate cancer and are close to someone who has been impacted by the disease,” said Jamie Bearse, COO of ZERO. “That’s why this partnership with Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is so important. We’re delighted and honored to work with Golf Holiday and other area partners on ending prostate cancer. MBGH has emerged as a national leader in this fight and countless loves have been saved because of their efforts.”
About ZERO – The Project to End Prostate Cancer
Zero prostate cancer deaths. Zero prostate cancer cases and for those with prostate cancer it means a zero PSA. Our name conveys what we stand for zero tolerance for prostate cancer.
As ZERO – The Project to End Prostate Cancer, we commit ourselves not only to reduce prostate cancer or alleviate the pain from the disease but to end it. We see a future where all men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer will be cured or manage their illness with good quality of life, with the support they need to minimize physical and emotional suffering and to cope effectively throughout their cancer journeys.
To accomplish our goal, we provide comprehensive treatment information to patients, education to those at risk and conduct free prostate cancer testing throughout the country. We increase research funds from the federal government to find new treatments and we fund research in the pursuit of a better test for the disease. For more information, go to ZeroCancer.org.
About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 77 championship golf courses, 115 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world’s largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.
Contact:
Cheryl Harden or Erin Barrett, The Brandon Agency, (843) 916-2000
charden@thebrandonagency.com; ebarrett@thebrandonagency.com;
or visit brandonpr.com
