2016 tournament honoree Judy Rankin
Howie Tiger
On Monday, October 10 the eighth annual Marilynn Smith LPGA Charity Pro Am will be played on the Tuscany Falls Course. Each team competing in the 8:00 a.m. shotgun scramble will feature one of 36 LPGA professionals playing with four men/women amateurs. The proceeds go to the Marilynn Smith Scholarship Fund to help young women attend college. Last year’s event netted over $165,000. Twenty-five $5,000 scholarships were awarded.
Judy Rankin is this year’s tournament participating honoree. A member of the World Golf Hall of Fame with 26 LPGA Tour victories and an incredible career as a golf analyst/commentator for ESPN, ABC and Golf Channel. LPGA co-founder Shirley Spork, TV golf analyst Jane Crafter, Colorado Hall of Famer Penny Zavichas, former U.S. Open Champion Susie Berning, former LPGA Championship winner Gloria Ehret and LPGA Tournament winners Sherri Turner and Shelly Hamlin will also participate.
The $250 entry fee ($225 if paid before June 30) includes golf with an LPGA pro, breakfast on the run, buffet luncheon and a goodie bag containing a shirt, golf balls and other commemorative gifts. For those not playing, but want to attend the luncheon, the cost is $30. Judy Rankin is scheduled to speak.
Autographed memorabilia and other collectibles will be auctioned off (silent and live). Auction items will be on display in the Tuscany Ballroom before and during lunch and available for online purchase for those unable to attend in person (http://msmith16.auction-bid.org/).
Fabulous prizes will be raffled. First prize is a Rolex watch. Second prize is your choice of a cruise to the Bahamas, Mexico or the western Caribbean. Third prize is three Ping G-Crossover clubs. Raffle tickets are available now by calling Marilynn; one for $10, three for $25 and seven for $50.
Marilynn Smith is 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. She served as LPGA president 1958 through 1960 and is still known as one of the game’s greatest ambassadors. She has called PebbleCreek her home for the last 12 years. She lives with her precious dog Benny and loves living here.
Marilynn founded the golf scholarship fund as a result of the lack of funds available to her while playing golf at the University of Kansas in 1948. Her father had asked the KU Athletic Director Phog Allen for travel expense money so she could attend the Women’s National Intercollegiate Golf Tournament. He said, “Mr. Smith, it’s too bad your daughter is not a boy.” This incident was the catalyst for Marilynn to establish a scholarship fund to help other young women golfers.
For more information, please pick up a brochure at either of our PebbleCreek pro shops, visit www.LPGAFoundation.org/MSmith or call Marilynn at 623-322-3574. Spectators are welcome, so come out and join in on the fun!