About $23,000 was raised for junior developmental programs Monday at the Colorado Golf Fundraising Tournament Presented by Citywide Banks.
A total of 114 players participated in the event at CommonGround Golf Course, which is owned and operated by the CGA and CWGA.
The annual tournament raises money for numerous initiatives in which the CGA, CWGA and CommonGround play a part. Among them are the junior developmental programs at the course, the new Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy, and the Colorado PGA Golf in Schools program, a joint initiative with its allied partners.
The Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy is formally launching this weekend at CommonGround. The academy promotes the use of caddies by paying all of their base fees, and it will train teenagers who eventually will be available to caddie at other courses in the Denver area. It’s also hoped that the academy will produce strong candidates for the Evans Caddie Scholarship at the University of Colorado.
The overall mission of the academy is to use caddying and the game of golf to teach kids how to succeed in life. Earlier this year, the academy received a $10,000 grant from the USGA.
Jennifer Navarro, a product of the CommonGround caddie program who plans to apply for the Evans Scholarship, was among those present Monday at the reception following the fundraising tournament. Navarro is caddying at Cherry Hills Country Club this year, though she may also work some special events at CommonGround.
“I am truly blessed with every single one who supports the Evans Scholarship because that’s what I’m striving for,” said Navarro (pictured speaking), a sophomore at Arrupe Jesuit High School. “I really want to be a successful person in life.”
Citywide was the title sponsor of the Colorado Golf Fundraising Tournament this year and will continue in that role in 2013.
