The Fifth Annual Marilynn Smith LPGA Charity Pro-Am is set for Monday, October 7, 2013 at Tuscany Falls Golf Course in Goodyear, AZ. This scramble format event, which is open to male and female amateur players, will commence with an 8:00 a.m. shotgun start. Entry fee is $200 and proceeds from the tournament benefit the Marilynn Smith Golf Scholarship Fund. In 2013, event organizers raised more $50,000, translating into ten scholarships for female college-bound golfers.
LPGA Golf Legend Marilynn Smith, in whose name the tournament is fondly named, is a distinguished member of the World Golf Hall of Fame; she is a co-founder of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and winner of 21 LPGA events including 2 majors. Smith, who is commonly referred to as one of golf’s greatest ambassadors, founded the scholarship fund because of the lack of monies available to her while playing golf at the University of Kansas in 1948. While competing in the Women’s National Intercollegiate Golf Tournament, her father inquired at the university about travel expense money for his daughter. At the time, the response from the athletic department was, “Mr. Smith, it’s too bad your daughter is not a boy.” This served as the catalyst for Smith to establish a golf scholarship fund specifically for young women planning to attend college.
The $200 pro-am entry fee includes golf with an LPGA professional, breakfast-on-the-run, and an awards luncheon with live and silent auctions plus gifts. Raffle tickets are available with three fabulous draws – a Rolex watch, PING G20 Driver and Fairway Woods and a Custom-fit Yar Putter. In addition to pro-am participants, the lunch and auction are open to the public; cost is $30.00 per person.
This year’s special participating honoree is World Golf Hall of Famer Hollis Stacy, winner of 18 LPGA tour events including four major championships. LPGA co-founder Shirley Spork, Jane Crafter, Sherri Turner, Ellie Gibson, Tina Barrett, Shelley Hamlin and Sharon Miller are among the 31 LPGA pros participating in the pro-am. Also featured is 14-year-old golf sensation Alexis Monet Flores.
Pre-event festivities include a Sunday “Tea” on October 6 from 1-3 p.m. with a chance to meet the pros at the Arizona Biltmore Golf Course Adobe Grill in Phoenix, AZ. At this social gathering, Marilynn Smith will be signing her new book, Have Clubs Will Travel. In addition, guests will enjoy refreshments, an incredible silent auction, and wonderful stories from the LPGA pioneers. There is no charge to attend the Sunday “Tea,” yet guests are encouraged to register at www.MSmthLPGA.eventbrite.com.
Registration for the tournament is open on-line at www.LPGAFoundation.org/MSmith. For more information about the event – participation, sponsorship, contributions, contact Debbie Waitkus, Tournament Co-Director at 602.840.0607 or dwaitkus@golfforcause.com.
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