Philanthropic NOPGA Members Respond Again in Smucker’s Birdies & Charity
By Tim Rogers
NOPGA Media
Akron: It was a great day for golf and a better day for those in need.
For the fifth consecutive year nearly 70 members of the Northern Ohio Section of the Professional Golfers Association stepped to the tee – many of them for 72 holes or more — in the NOPGA Foundation’s J.M. Smucker’s Birdies & Charity event at Portage Country Club.
While the final tally will not be official for several weeks, the fund-raiser will assuredly raise the Foundation’s charitable accumulative contribution to well over the $500,000 mark, with Smucker’s providing the initial impetus with a $10,000 donation.
Early calculations put Monday’s total at approximately $139,000 and growing. A satellite event at Mayfield/Sand Ridge and a planned Toledo Chapter Birdies & Charity at Stone Oak will increase it even more.
This should come as no surprise. Professional golf has had a long-standing tradition of giving back to the community. The NOPGA members validated that practice on Monday.
Foundation Director Danielle Monas calculated the total number of birdies at 840. Pledges from Kirtland Country Club members, lead by Head Professional Mark Bixler, totaled $29,909.
NOPGA members began soliciting pledges from the memberships of their respective clubs several weeks ago to award them for the number of birdies they could make over 72 holes, or more if the pros so chose. They sent emails, posted flyers and stood on the first tee to ask for pledges.
Monday was a day for the Foundation and six local charities. It was a day when unselfish golf professionals displayed a sense of community involvement and the role of supporting local causes.
It was a great day in many ways. The weather could not have been better, with mild temperatures, a light breeze and soft sun caressing the golf course and its visitors.
Portage Country Club was more than a gracious host with a terrific breakfast and lunch. Superintendent Derek Trenchard and his staff had the course in its usual terrific shape.
“I couldn’t have been prouder of our Section and its staff for putting on such a great event,” said Portage Head Professional Adam Lewicki, who played 100 holes and teamed with Congress Lake head professional Jason Nussbaum to produce a combined 69 birdies. “I was even more proud of the Portage staff for executing a fantastic day.”
A price tag cannot be placed on the preparation and work by Monas. Her dedicated efforts – from start to finish over a period of months – make this event a tremendous success. NOPGA Executive Director David Griffith, Director of Operations Lynne Plaisance, Director of Competitions Matt Rutland, Junior Golf Coordinator Haleigh Gray and PGA Works Fellow Emily Jones, also put in long hours.
Griffith shared a few of his thoughts: “Our professionals’ dedication and passion were on full display, demonstrating the incredible power of the PGA Professional. Not only was it a great day for charity, but it was also a day of camaraderie where our professionals can be together, share ideas, make memories, and make birdies!”
Beyond the volunteer efforts of the pros and the NOPGA staff and Portage Country Club, Monday went deeper than that.
You know what else it was? It was a great mental-health day. Simply, it was a day to appreciate the joy of golf.
“I am very privileged to be a PGA Professional in the Northern Ohio Section and days like today prove it,” Lewicki added.
Similar testimonies were echoed by many of the players throughout the day that started at 8:30 a.m. and did not end until well after 8 p.m.
Nussbaum’s 38 birdies topped the field and Lewicki added 31. Joe Meglen, Director of Player Development at Stonewater Golf Club, was next with 30 birdies.
The play of Chagrin Valley Country Club Assistant Professionals Josh Diemer and Antonio Bodziony accounted for $9,620 and Westwood Country Club Director of Instruction Chris Knevel and Anthony Cosentino generated $9,435.
“Anytime we can promote the game of golf and participate in days like today it’s a good thing,” said Knevel.
And Monday and all that went into it was a good thing, that’s for sure. It was better than par for the course.
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