Howie Tiger
On April 28, the 14th edition of the Marilynn Smith Scholarship Pro-Am teed it up at the Kierland Golf Club in Scottsdale. Thirty teams competed in a scramble format with each team made up of four amateurs and one LPGA Professional. In the past, this Pro-Am was played at PebbleCreek, Marilynn’s home for 15 years.
The proceeds from this event benefit the Marilynn Smith Scholarship Fund to help young women attend college. Recently, $5,000 scholarships were awarded to 25 incoming freshmen for the fall. The Pro-Am preceded the two-day Marilynn Smith Arizona Women’s Senior Open, which featured a $100,000 purse.
Juli Inkster was this year’s tournament honoree. Juli was named Golf Digest’s 1983 Rookie of the Year and never looked back. With her impressive 31 career victories, seven of them being majors, and 212 top-10 finishes, it’s no wonder she was chosen captain for the U.S. Solheim Cup team 3 times in a row. Many well-known LPGA pros attended including Pat Bradley, Hollis Stacy, Angela Stanford, Cheyenne Woods, Danielle and Dina Ammaccapane, Wendy Ward, Susie Redman, Michelle McGann, Brandi Burton, and Peggy Gustafson.
Each participant received a tee prize bag filled with lots of goodies including a book by Penny Zavichas, a niece of Babe Zaharias. 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 Team Player (player moves forward one set of tees).
Numerous specialty contests were played on certain holes such as Closest to the Pin, Longest Drive, and Closest Drive to the Line. On one par 3 hole, a member of LPGA Girls Golf of Phoenix hit an extra tee shot that the team could use. It was reported that they helped numerous teams by hitting it close!
After golf, lunch was served, winners were announced, and prizes awarded.
The day before this year’s event, a Sunday Tea was held at the Westin Kierland Hotel & Spa. Guests enjoyed refreshments, an expo and the Golf It Forward Museum display. They also listened to Juli as she was interviewed by LPGA pro and ESPN broadcaster, Jane Crafter. Juli shared many stories about her golf and Solheim Cup experiences as well as her family life.
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.
The events were also a celebration of the 26th anniversary of Marilynn’s Scholarship Fund. To date, the Marilynn Smith Scholarship Fund has granted $1,495,000 to 289 young women.
For more information please contact Debbie Waitkus at 13founders@GolfItForward.org.