Golden Tee Players Raise $40,000 for Make-A-Wish
Players Come Conduct "Life Changing" Tournament
Ed Godfrey Plays Giant Killer En Route to Player's Charity Championship Title
(March 7, 2008 – Arlington Heights, IL) Golden Tee tournaments are extraordinary events that revolve around competition and camaraderie. But at the second Golden Tee Player's Charity Championship the tournament structure went well beyond a player's personal enjoyment - it was a weekend that changed people's lives.
After a four-year hiatus, the PCC made its return on February 22-24 at Side Pockets in St. Charles, MO near St. Louis. Despite winter storms across the Midwest, 121 players braved the weather to compete for a purse of over $20,000 and help raise money for charity.
Prior to the event, players created personal fund-raising websites where friends, family, co-workers and others could visit to make donations to the Make-A-Wish Foundation - the official charity of Video Golfers for Underdogs (VG4U).
With all that in mind, the players hung on to every word of VG4U official J.P. Biedermann, as he addressed the room. In an emotional presentation Biedermann, tournament director Jeff Harlow, and VG4U director Casey Brock presented Make-A-Wish fund-raising program coordinator Krista Goszewski with a check for $42,383.61!
Overwhelmed with emotion from the player's hard work and generosity, Goszewski thanked all who opened their hearts and wallets. And when she announced the total amount raised, the eruption of cheers could be heard well beyond the Golden Tee community!
"When Make-A-Wish gets $5,000 we all smile ear-to-ear," commented Goszewski. "So when we receive over $40,000 we can't even put it into words. It just doesn't happen. We will be able to grant 8 wishes with this donation. The PCC is truly a unique event that is leaps and bounds beyond many others!"
The Road to Crown A Champion Begins
With the room still buzzing with goodwill and pride, the players saddled up to the 20 Golden Tee machines for what became one of the most competitive tournaments in history.
It had been years since so many elite players had gathered at one tournament. World champions. Regional champions. National champions. Players of the Year. Team USA members. World Team members. They were all there.
The Giant Killer
But from the beginning, the weekend belonged to Ed Godfrey.
The Wheaton, IL native played the role of David all weekend long as he slew Goliath after Goliath. Godfrey started off quietly by beating Anthony Dakis of Minneapolis and then pulled his first upset with a win over Team USA member and Frozen Open champion Ryan McCook of Tampa. But when he knocked off current world champion Graig Kinzler of Chicago in sudden death, the whispers really started circulating through Side Pockets. And his upset over Andy Haas of Stowe, OH turned those whispers into full-blown hysteria! Even Godfrey couldn't believe the run he was on.
"This is crazy!" exclaimed an excited Godfrey after his match against Haas. "I’m on a roll and I hope it doesn’t stop!"
Godfrey clinched the title with a win over two-time Team USA member Chris Litzinger of Cincinnati.
"It really does feel good," commented a shocked and emotional Godfrey. "Especially because of all the elite players I had to beat. If I were a betting man and was asked how I'd fare against all these amazing players I would probably answer 3-and-3. There's no way I thought I'd make it through all of them undefeated."