2022 Marilynn Smith Pro Am LPGA Professionals
Howie Tiger
On May 2, the 2022 Marilynn Smith Scholarship Pro Am teed it up at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa. Twenty-eight teams competed in a scramble format, with each team made up of four amateurs and one LPGA Professional. The proceeds benefit the Marilynn Smith Scholarship Fund to help young women attend college. Recently, $5,000 scholarships were awarded to eight incoming freshmen for the fall. The Pro-Am preceded the two-day inaugural Marilynn Smith Arizona Women’s Senior Championship.
This Pro-Am had always been played at PebbleCreek, Marilynn’s home, for 15 years. In the four years that have passed since we last teed it up for this event, we sadly lost both Marilynn (April 2019) and Shirley Spork (April 2022), two of the 13 original founders of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).
Susie Maxwell Berning was this year’s tournament participating honoree. She is a three-time U.S. Open Champion who was recently inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Kathy Whitworth (winner of 88 professional tournaments) also attended. Other well-known LPGA pros included Pat Bradley, Sandra Palmer, Rosie Jones, Danielle Ammaccapane, Wendy Ward, Pat Hurst, and Peggy Gustafson.
Each participant received a goodie bag that included a long-sleeve golf shirt, a Marilynn Smith golf hat, and a copy of Marilynn’s book Have Clubs, Will Travel. Players could purchase a “Marilynn Package” that provided three features: a Marilynn Putt (ball is good from anywhere on the green and counts as one stroke), entry to a putting contest where you received any prize that your ball struck, and Boost Your Pro (your playing Professional moves forward one set of tees).
Numerous specialty games were played on certain holes. On the 13th hole, in honor of the 13 LPGA founders, a 7-year-old (member of LPGA*USGA Girls Golf of Phoenix) joined each team on the green to attempt a putt. It was reported that for one team (Team PebbleCreek) she putted first and drained a 25-footer! The team went crazy whooping and hollering.
The PebbleCreek team of Scott Giles, Howie Tiger, Belinda Zelinger, John Zelinger, and LPGA Pro Barb Moxness shot a gross score of 53 and finished in 5th place.
After golf, lunch was served, winners were announced, and prizes were awarded.
The day before this year’s event, a Sunday Tea was held at Papago Golf Club. Guests enjoyed refreshments, an expo, and an incredible memorabilia display. They also listened to Ms. Whitworth, Ms. Berning, and Ms. Palmer talk about their golf experiences, as well as their relationship to Marilynn.
Marilynn Smith was a co-founder of the LPGA and winner of 21 LPGA tour events, including two majors. She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2006 under the Lifetime Achievement category and the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame in 2016. She served as LPGA president 1958-1960 and is known as one of the game’s greatest ambassadors.
To date, the Marilynn Smith Scholarship Fund has granted more than $1 million to over 200 young women. For more information, contact Debbie Waitkus at [email protected].