FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pros announced for Charity Classic Pro-Am
NAPLES, Fla. (Oct. 7, 2011) – The Immokalee Foundation will pair some of the biggest names in golf
with Naples’ most philanthropic golfers at the 2011 Charity Classic Pro-Am Golf Tournament at Bay
Colony Golf Club in Naples Monday, Nov. 14.
Mark Lye, PGA Tour professional and Golf Channel analyst, has once again recruited an
impressive group of professionals from the LPGA, PGA Tour, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour.
Among this year’s line up is seven-time PGA Tour winner, Peter Jacobsen; three-time PGA Tour winner,
Brian Gay; Russ Cochran, three-time Champions Tour winner, including 2011 Senior British Open
Champion; 18-time Champions Tour winner, Bruce Fleisher; two-time PGA Tour winner and three-time
Nationwide Tour winner, Daniel Chopra; four-time PGA Tour winner Chip Beck; and of course, Lye.
Other participants include Andy Bean, 11-time PGA Tour winner; five-time PGA Tour winner,
Jim Gallagher; Michael Bradley, four-time PGA Tour winner, including a win at the 2011 Puerto Rico
Open; Wayne Levi, 12-time PGA Tour winner; one-time PGA Tour winner and four-time Champions
Tour winner, Brad Bryant; Naples native, George McNeill, who has one PGA Tour victory; Derek
Lamely, one PGA Tour win and one Nationwide Tour win; Joe Ogilvie, a four-time Nationwide Tour
winner; Lonnie Nielsen, who has earned two wins on the Champions Tour and two international victories;
Russell Knox, one Nationwide Tour win; Chris Stroud, 12 top 10 PGA Tour placements; and two-time
Nationwide Tour winner, Eric Booker.
Female players at the tournament are Fort Myers native Terry Jo Myers, a three-time winner on
the LPGA Tour and winner of the Heather Farr Player Award in 1997; Cindy Rarick, five-time winner on
the LPGA Tour; and Kris Tschetter, one-time winner on the LPGA Tour and winner of the Heather Farr
Player Award in 2001.
The exclusive event is slated to include only 24 foursomes, plus pros. The benefit tournament
begins at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast and golf demonstrations, followed by a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. The
scramble format pairs players with a different pro for each nine holes. An awards luncheon will be held
immediately following the tournament.
Entry fees for the golf tournament begin at $5,000. All pro-am golfers will receive tickets to the
highly-acclaimed Charity Classic Celebration dinner and auction Friday, Nov. 11 at The Ritz-Carlton,
Naples.
According to Kevin Johnson of The Johnson Meland Group at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and
chairperson of the nonprofit organization’s golf committee, the tournament is about much more than golf.
“It’s about helping make dreams come true for the hardworking students involved in The Immokalee
Foundation and its programs.”
This event will provide an opportunity for patrons to Fund A Dream, which allows benefactors to
support the young people of Immokalee by giving directly to a child rather than purchasing an auction
item. All contributions are 100 percent tax deductible.
Presenting sponsor for the 2011 Charity Classic Celebration is The Johnson Meland Group at
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Additional sponsors are Fifth Third Bank, founding sponsor; and GE
Foundation, corporate matching sponsor. Hope Society sponsors include Arthrex Inc. and Texas
Roadhouse. The Empowerment Circle sponsor is Kelly Tractor. Education Circle sponsors include
Bigham Jewelers, Caterpillar Foundation, Jaguar Naples and Porsche of Naples, and Joseph’s Custom
Clothiers. Naples Illustrated is the corporate media sponsor.
Ticket prices for the dinner are $550 per guest, tables are available at $5,000 for 10 and $6,000
for 12. Sponsorship and underwriting opportunities are also available. For more information or to make
reservations, contact The Immokalee Foundation at 239-430-9122, email [email protected]
or visit www.immokaleefoundation.org. Last year’s Charity Classic dinner and auction and Pro-Am golf
tournament raised more than $1.2 million to fund the organization’s programs.
The Immokalee Foundation has a range of programs that focus on building pathways to success
through college and vocational school, mentoring and tutoring, and opportunities for broadening
experiences and life skills development.
-30Contact:
Sharon Arnold, Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and Public Relations, 239-275-5758,
[email protected]