• MEDIA ADVISORY •
Inaugural Spirit Charity Challenge Features LPGA and PGA Tour Players
Stacy Lewis and Sam Saunders lead teams of Spirit alumni and friends in the fun, charitable event Monday at Whispering Pines Golf Club
TRINITY, Texas (October 1, 2019) – The inaugural Spirit Charity Challenge is scheduled for Monday (Oct. 7) at Whispering Pines Golf Club. LPGA Tour player Stacy Lewis and PGA Tour player Sam Saunders serve as Ambassadors for the event and will lead a team of Spirit alumni – consisting of current and former Tour players – in a friendly competition benefiting charity.
The Spirit Charity Challenge was created as a fun and charitable event to bring back and celebrate Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship alumni. Each of the nine foursomes will feature one male and one female professional golfer who will be playing a best ball with the winners receiving $100,000 to donate to the charities of their choice. Each group will also have two amateurs who will be teaming up with their professional partners to play for gold, silver and bronze medals.
“Our alumni have expressed their appreciation for the unforgettable experience of playing in the Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship and will contribute to our charitable mission,” said Spirit Founder Corby Robertson, Jr. “We’ve created the Spirit Charity Challenge as a memorable reunion at Whispering Pines Golf Club to celebrate their successes and generate contributions to charities. It will be a great two days of sharing stories, playing golf and celebrating generous spirits.”
WHAT: Inaugural Spirit Charity Challenge
WHEN: Monday, Oct. 7, 2019
WHERE: Whispering Pines Golf Club | 1532 Whispering Pines Drive | Trinity, Texas 75862
WHO: LPGA Tour’s Stacy Lewis leads the Spirit Women Alumni | PGA Tour’s Sam Saunders leads the Spirit Men Alumni
SPIRIT TEAMS:
Women’s Team: Paula Creamer (USA), Austin Ernst (USA), Maria Fassi (Mexico), Bronte Law (England), Pernilla Lindberg (Sweden), Gaby Lopez (Mexico), Ally McDonald (USA), Lorena Ochoa (Mexico), Lexi Thompson (USA)
Men’s Team: Roberto Diaz (Mexico), Julian Etulain (Argentina), Dylan Frittelli (South Africa), Mackenzie Hughes (Canada), Colt Knost (USA), Scottie Scheffler (USA), Ben Martin (USA), C.T. Pan (Chinese Taipei), Peter Uilhein (USA)
The Spirit Charity Challenge precedes the 2019 Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship, a premiere golf event featuring the world’s best men and women amateur golfers representing their respective countries in team and individual competitions, scheduled for Nov. 7-9 at Whispering Pines. Stacy Lewis will lead the USA team which includes some of the country’s top collegiate golfers, including Cole Hammer (Houston, Texas/University of Texas), Andy Ogletree (Little Rock, Miss./Georgia Tech), Emilia Migliaccio (Cary, NC/Wake Forest) and Kaitlyn Papp (Austin, Texas/University of Texas).
About The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship
Eighty competitors from 20 countries compete for gold medals in the 54-hole four-ball stroke play competition in The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship. Each country is represented by two women and two men amateur golfers. Previous Spirit International competitors who now are professionals on the LPGA and PGA Tour include Jordan Spieth, Francesco Molinari, Brandt Snedeker, Jason Day, Martin Kaymer, Viktor Hovland, Lexi Thompson, Bronte Law, Lorena Ochoa, Paula Creamer, Brooke Henderson and Maria Fassi. Spirit alumni have gone on to win more than 650 professional events, including 23 major championships. The Spirit Golf Association, a 501 (c) (3) charity that is dedicated to the promotion of amateur golf for the benefit of health-related causes, organizes and oversees the tournament along with the Texas Golf Association.
The Spirit Golf Association has contributed more than $12 million to its charitable activities: The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship and healthcare service providers such as Baylor College of Medicine Teen Health Clinics, Medical Bridges and The Immunization Partnership. In 2017, The Spirit Golf Association responded to the Hurricane Harvey relief efforts by directing funds to Harvey victims through the United Way, Houston Food Bank, KIPP, Yellowstone Academy and the Baylor College of Medicine Teen Health Clinics.
For more information about The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship visit TheSpiritGolf.com.
About Whispering Pines Golf Club
Just 80 miles north of Houston along the shores of Lake Livingston sits Whispering Pines Golf Club, one of the best private golf clubs in the country. The club was founded not only to offer its discerning members a superior golf experience on an exceptional course, but it also was created to promote amateur golf and to benefit charitable causes on a local, national and international level. Whispering Pines is ranked #1 in Texas and #54 in the country by Golf Digest.
For more information about Whispering Pines Golf Club or The Spirit Golf Association, visit either WhisperingPinesGolfClub.com or TheSpiritGolf.com
Media Contacts:
Tammy Boclair, Alday Communications, tammy@aldaycommunications.com, 615-500-2930
Kara Marsom, Alday Communications, kara@aldaycommunications.com, 615-791-1535, x29
