Month: March 2018

CHAPTER STUDENTS (ALMOST) DEFEND SATURDAY PRO AM TITLE

Three of our Chapter students- Harry Hutchings, Tyler Mistretta and Christopher Curtis and Program Director – Connie Capanegra, teed it up with PGA TOUR player Andrew Filbert the Saturday morning of tournament week at the Palmer Course at PGA National.
We were the defending champions and tied for first with a score of 57, but finished second on a match a cards. We will be back next year.
“What an incredible experience!” exclaimed Tyler Mistretta. “We had a great time and I also learned a lot about what it really takes to play professional golf. The food and gift bag were so over the top.”

CRANE AND TRINGALE ROCK THE JUNIOR CLINIC

Hundreds of Chapter participants and local youth visited The Honda Classic on Tuesday afternoon of tournament week for our free annual Junior Clinic. PGA Tour Professionals Ben Crane and Cameron Tringale joined the youth for an afternoon of hitting shots and answering questions. The pros then asked a few of our students to step up and demonstrate their swings. Crane and Tringale signed many autographs and took tons of pictures with the students.

CHAPTER SUPPORTERS TAKE ON THE BEAR TRAP

Many of our supporters enjoyed the opportunity to experience PGA TOUR playing conditions, including Sunday pin placements at The Monday after The Honda Classic Invitational on the Champion Course at PGA National. The pins were tucked and the rough was up. Playing in this event really demonstrates just how good the players are on the PGA TOUR. “From the Junior Clinic to the Monday after Invitational, The Honda Classic is our biggest week of the year,” said Bobby Hendel, Chapter President. “The tournament brings tremendous community awareness to our organization and helps us raise much needed funds.” Congratulations to first place in the gross division with a score of 67 by David Ladd and Mark Dutler (pictured above left with Chapter staff Aliya Howard and Connie Capanegra). First place in the net division was won by Tim and Matt Wilhelmy with a score of 57.

FAN LOYALTY SETS NEW ATTENDANCE RECORD AT THE HONDA CLASSIC

Congratulations to local PGA TOUR Professional Justin Thomas for winning the 2018 Honda Classic. The Honda Classic was thrilled to announce a record breaking attendance of 224,624 spectators propelled by the competitive playing of Tiger Woods and a thrilling playoff victory by world no. 3, Justin Thomas! The Honda Classic is a Founding Partner of our Chapter and supports our mission and programs through their charitable giving. Our Chapter also raises funds through the Monday after Tournament, Birdies for Children, other designated grants and the PGA TOUR donated their Wednesday Pro-Am purse. The tournament has an impact to our Chapter each year of over $100,000. “We have worked hard to attract a diverse spectator base and were thrilled to see this strategy pay off in the way the community supported this year’s tournament. It was just an incredible week of golf and fun. We look forward to more great events in the years to come so that we can continue to grow upon the impact that we make in this community through our Honda Classic Cares initiative and our charitable giving,” said Honda Classic Executive Director and our Chapter Vice Chairman Kenneth R. Kennerly. The 2019 Honda Classic will be played February 25-March 3, 2019.