Story by Matt Byrne/NAPGT :: Photo by Kasey Hine/NAPGTSUTTON, MA, (July 8, 2007) – The first Pro-Am of the 2007 North American Pro Golf Tour season, held July 8, brought over 80 golfers to Blackstone National Golf Club for a day of fun with the pros to benefit multiple sclerosis research.
Raising over $5,000 for the University of Massachusetts Medical Center’s research center, Blackstone owner Michael Gordon said the help of his sponsors, and the North American Pro Golf Tour, was integral to the event’s success.
Both local and national corporations donated money for the event, including Polar Beverages, local John Deere distributor Schmidt Equipment, Anheuser Busch and local insurer Sullivan, Garrity and Donnelly.
Gordon, whose sister was diagnosed with MS twenty years ago, said he is committed to raising funds toward finding a cure.
“As human beings we try to do what we can when we can,” Gordon said. Over the past two decades his family has raised nearly $50,000 for the cause.
A special connection was also found in young tour professional Jared Jiminez, who played alongside Gordon for the event, and whose mother and sister also suffer from the disease.
“[The MS charity] was the reason I played the tournament. I was thinking about playing, and it was really the kicker,” Jiminez said. Both talked during the round about their common experiences.
“It’s good to see someone in a similar position doing well in his life. It’s good to have somebody to talk to about that,” Jiminez said.
The tour professionals donate their time, amateurs kick in their cash, and Gordon donates his course toward the cause. Blackstone has played host to a half dozen such events benefiting MS since its opening in 2000.
The University of Massachusetts has been Gordon’s recipient institution for years, saying “they’re very easy to work with,” while knowing the money will go directly towards research.
The event kicked off the NAPGT’s second tournament. Regulation play begins tomorrow, July 9, as the 70 player field plays 36 holes, with the cut being determined by early evening.
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Results:
North American Pro Golf Tour
July 8, 2007
Blackstone National Golf Course
Blackstone Pro-Am
Benefiting Multiple Sclerosis Research
First Place – Denny Rasku – Don Masley – Stephen White – Leo Ryan 49
Second Place – Todd Westfall – Gary Iacovelli – Rob Brand – Dale Harger 50
Third Place – Eric Egloff – Bob Burke – CA Dapolite – Sal Moracco 52
Closest to the pin
#3 Jason Barrows 4′6″
#7 Bob Burke 12′
#11 Nick Angelo IV 6′
#13 Bud Freitas 8′3″
