VILLANOVA, Pa. (June 12, 2010) – Whenever a group of Villanova alumni get together for reminiscing past accomplishments, the topic of conversation usually gets around to the remarkable 1985 NCAA Championship basketball victory over Georgetown in Lexington, Kentucky.
That has been the major theme for this entire year, the 25th anniversary of what many consider to be one of the greatest upsets in sports history. An exclamation point is being placed at the end of the year of celebration with the Nova Legacy Golf Classic, to be held on Monday, June 21 at the Seaview Golf Resort in Absecon, New Jersey. It will be preceded by a pairings party at the Borgata Casino Hotel and Spa on Sunday night, June 20.
Dennis McKithen, also a 1985 Villanova graduate, has assumed the position of executive director for the event and has played the role of pied piper in attracting so many of the players and coaches from the championship team.
“We have a great cause involved with the tournament and we knew that making the championship team hosts of the event would start us on the right foot,” explained McKithen. He has created the DCM Foundation for Entrepreneurship in Education, a 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization, and installed it as the beneficiary of the event. Funds will be channeled to Villanova University and the Blue White Scholarship Foundation for use in supplying scholarships.
Rollie Massimino, head coach of the 1985 team, will be present at Seaview to lead his former players. Ed Pinckney, star center on the ’85 team, will be one of the few players not in attendance because he is coaching an international team in Egypt. However he was quick to say, “It has been an unbelievable year, the way that so many people have come out to events to honor our team. This should be a nice way to end the year of celebrations and I know the other players are looking forward to it. I’m just sorry I can’t attend, but I will be there in spirit.”
Alliances have been forged with the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority and Yuengling Brewery in an effort to establish the event as a major attraction in the Atlantic City area, as well as a tournament that will attract players from the Greater Philadelphia area and the Mid-Atlantic region. The event will be played on the Pines Course at Seaview, the day following the final round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic is played on Seaview’s Bay Course.
A preview of the event and all of the celebrities who will be on hand for one final 25th anniversary celebration will take place when the Saturday, June 13 edition of the GolfTalk Live radio show broadcasts live from Seaview. McKithen, as well as interviews with other celebrities, will be a focal point of the show as the LPGA players play the second round of their tournament. The show airs from 7 to 8 a.m. on WNTP 990-AM in Philadelphia and on www.wntp.com. The show also can be heard via podcast beginning Sunday, June 20 at www.golftalklive.net.
“The Atlantic City area will be focused on golf all week and we hope to add a great ending to it,” said McKithen. “People are excited about spending a day with some of the legendary names like Coach Massimino, Harold Pressley, Harold Jensen, Gary McClain and the rest.”
Reservations for the event are being handled by calling 610-519-0777 or by e-mailing novalegacygolfouting@gmail.com.
Contact:
TL Golf Services
610-279-9220
