The Marilynn Smith LPGA Charity Pro-Am takes place on Monday, October 7, 2013 at Tuscany Falls Golf Course in Goodyear, AZ. The 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.
Players and the general public are invited to meet and greet some of the LPGA trailblazers – Co-Founders Shirley Spork and Marilynn Smith, Wiffi Smith and others. 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.
The pro-am is sold out, making the Sunday “Tea” ideal for visiting with Marilynn and the other pros. 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.
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, Betsy King, Wiffi Smith, Jane Crafter, Jo Ann Prentice, Sherri Turner, Tina Barrett, Amy Fruwirth, Shelley Hamlin and Sharon Miller are among the 32 LPGA pros participating in the pro-am.
For more information about the event – participation, sponsorship, contributions, contact Debbie Waitkus, Tournament Co-Director at 602.840.0607 or dwaitkus@golfforcause.com.
About the Marilynn Smith Scholarship Fund:
The Marilynn Smith Scholarship is granted annually through The LPGA Foundation and the Marilynn Smith Scholarship Fund. Established in 1999 by LPGA Legend Marilynn Smith, with proceeds from a golf tournament she organized, the objective of the fun is to provide college scholarships to worthy female high school seniors who have played golf in high school or in their community, and who have plans to play golf at an accredited U.S. college or university.
About Marilynn Smith:
At age 20, Marilynn Smith was one of the thirteen co-founders of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). She was, and still is, known as one of the game’s greatest ambassadors. During her career she won 21 LPGA tournaments including two majors, received the inaugural Patty Berg Award for distinguished service, was awarded the Golf Digest LPGA Founders’ Cup for her dedication to charitable services, created and promoted the first Senior LPGA tournament, served as LPGA president 1958-1960, traveled to all 50 states and 37 countries, conducted over 4,000 golf clinics, helped launch the LPGA TC&P division along with Shirley Spork, and was inducted into numerous halls of fame including the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2006 under the Lifetime Achievement category. http://marilynnsmith.com/
Contact:
Media Contact: dwaitkus@golfforcause.com
Phone: (602) 840-0607
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