Teeing up for the 2005 Alumni & Friends Lauderdale Championship

The 2005 Augusta State University Alumni & Friends Lauderdale Championship will take place Friday, April 22, 2005, at Forest Hills Golf Club.  The best-ball format will have two tee times, one at 8:30 a.m. and one at 1:30 p.m., and feature three divisions for play:  Seniors, Women, and Open. 

According to Frank Mulherin, tournament chairman, an emphasis has been placed on recruiting more seniors and women to play. “Our afternoon tee times have traditionally filled up quickly, so to fill the morning with women and seniors is the best way to dramatically increase our bottom line and reach out to more golfers.”  Separate prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place teams in each division.

This is the 21st year for the tournament, which typically raises about $65,000, according to Ginger Chew, Director of Annual Giving. The proceeds of the tournament benefit many programs on campus, including scholarships, athletics, equipment and technology and faculty development. “This is by far the single largest fundraising event held by the foundation each year, and it’s great because we are able to use the proceeds to help so many different departments,” said Helen Hendee, Acting Vice President for University Advancement. “Additionally,” said Hendee, “it is a fantastic friend-raising opportunity for the university.”

Sponsors give the tournament a strong financial backing, and this year Club Car is the Presenting Sponsor, and Augusta Sportswear, Wachovia, Bank of America and Health Center Credit Union are the Major Sponsors. “We are fortunate that this tournament is well known and that many sponsors look forward to it each year, as it is a great mixture of the business community, alumni, and faculty and staff that participate,” said Chew. 

Besides the tournament itself, participants have an opportunity to bid on silent auction items ranging from a golf trip to Secession in Beaufort, SC, to a wine of the month package. The silent auction will go on throughout the day and during the awards reception. One lucky golfer will take home the Wheelbarrow of Cheer, a large wheelbarrow packed to the rim with various liquors, wines and accoutrements, with raffle tickets sold for $10 each. 

One of the most anticipated events of the day is the Lexus Champions for Charity package, which will be offered in a live auction format during the awards reception. Jim Hudson Lexus is a participating dealership in the program in which a designated charity – in this case ASU – can auction off the trip of a lifetime. The winning bidder and a partner will receive an all expense paid trip for two to Pebble Beach California, where they will play 54 holes of golf on three legendary golf courses:  Spanish Bay, Spyglass, and Pebble Beach, competing against participants from all over the country.

With so much going on this will be an exciting year for the tournament. According to Chew, none of it would be possible without the support of sponsors and the manpower of the many volunteers. The ASU Men’s and Women’s Golf Teams provide support throughout the day, as do the ASU Alumni Association Board of Directors, the Student Ambassador Board, and a number of ASU faculty and staff members.

For more information on the tournament, e-mail Ginger Chew at gchew@aug.edu or call 737-1759.

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