INAUGURAL CiC GOLF CLASSIC RAISES MORE THAN
$250,000
Celebrities and Executives had a ball on
September 8th
MAMARONECK, NY, September 8, 2003 - A beautiful
day dawned on the historic Winged Foot Golf Club
today as Pat LaFontaine hosted the inaugural
Companions in Courage Foundation Golf Classic.
LaFontaine said, "On a day like today, you are
hoping to accomplish two things. First of all,
we need to raise money to build our interactive
game rooms in children's hospitals. Secondly,
you want to raise awareness in the corporate
community about this project and the impact it
can have on the most vulnerable in our society."
Based on all accounts, the event accomplished
both tasks.
Merrill Lynch and Microsoft served as primary
sponsors for the event. Each company was
represented by some of the elite from their
firms, and helped contribute to the raising of
more than $250,000 during the day. LaFontaine
led a contingent of celebrities that included
comedian Denis Leary, baseball's David Cone and
Jimmy Key, and Hockey Hall of Famers Mike Bossy,
Bryan Trottier and Clark Gillies.
Other celebrity golfers included Glenn Anderson,
Patrick Flatley, John Davidson, Steve Levy, Bob
Sweeney, Jim Craig, Steve Webb and Ted Nolan.
Current Islanders Mark Parrish, Dave Scatchard,
Jason Blake and Rick DiPietro were joined by
current Rangers Eric Lindros, Mike Dunham,
Matthew Barnaby, and Mike Richter.
Clark Gillies recorded the day's low gross round
with a scorching 2-over-par 72 on the pro West
course. The NHL team of Kenny Martin, Keith
Ritter, Michael Manseur and Shaun Powell won the
low team net with a handicap-aided round of
22-under par.
Organizers of the event also threw a little
wrinkle into the standard "long drive" contest.
A regulation hockey net was placed in the
fairway at the 9th hole, with the object being
to drive closest to the net. It looked like the
net was safe at approximately 300 yards from the
tee. However, in one of the final groups of the
day, former Yankees star Jimmy Key bombed a
drive that was estimated to travel 363 yards.
His "Ruthian" shot gave him bragging rights as
the "big dog" for the day. Key said, "I had to
show all of these big, tough hockey players that
us baseball guys can pack a bit of a punch,
too."
Perhaps the highlight of the golfing day, was
the $1 million shot contest that was conducted
at the conclusion of the round.
On the 7th hole, each group was asked to qualify
for the $1 million shot contest. The player in
each group who was closest to the pin on the 7th
hole qualified for the $1 million shoot-out. A
leader board at the 18th hole kept participants
abreast all day of the qualifiers for the final
shoot-out.
TEAM NHL is congratulated by Pat LaFontaine for
their victory as low-net team.
As the round was completed, 23 golfers were
listed among the qualifiers. Each qualifier
marched 150 yards from the hole into the 18th
fairway, and took one shot at $1 million. A
hole-in-one would pay the top prize. If no one
recorded an ace, then the player closest to the
pin would win a framed LeRoy Neiman print of
Winged Foot, plus valuable gifts from the Winged
Foot Pro Shop. After everyone had given it their
best shot, Maurey Leone of Merrill Lynch was the
winner, with a shot that landed just 10' 4" from
the cup.
The post-event cocktail party featured a
touching presentation on the work of the
Companions in Courage Foundation. It highlighted
the interactive game rooms that are being built
in children's hospitals, along with some of the
children who will benefit from these rooms.
Clark Gillies took the microphone and
acknowledged the career of Mike Richter. Just a
few days earlier, the Rangers goaltender had
announced his retirement. Gillies related a
couple of touching stories that demonstrated
Richter's compassion for people in need, which
elicited a standing ovation from the crowd.
Pat LaFontaine thanked all of the corporate
sponsors including; Alliance Bernstein, Bank of
America, Nestle Waters, Edward E. hall
Insurance, Botto Mechanical, BeMusic,
Cambridge/Brighton, Tommy Bahama, A.E.
Bruggermann & Co., Fleet Trading, ING Ghent, JP
Morgan Chase, Allied Domecq and Dunkin'
Donuts/Baskin-Robbins. He thanked all for their
support and invited them to participate in the
CiC Golf Classic next year.
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