PohlCat Benefit brings out golfers for good cause
Good weather, great people and a worthy cause was what the Ninth Annual
PohlCat Benefit was all about Monday.
Held at the PohlCat Golf Course in Mount Pleasant,
the benefit once again brought in many participants to raise money for
local youth organizations.
Some of the organizations that will benefit from the
golf outing are Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Isabella County, the CMU Chippewa
Club, Isabella County 4-H Horse Leaders Association, Central Michigan
Community Hospital, the American Red Cross and the Mount Pleasant Parks
and Recreation junior golf program.
Dan Pohl, Mount Pleasant native and PGA Tour professional,
hosted the event and said the event is about having a good time.
"Over the years of the event, the focus was for the
people to have a good time," Pohl said.
"The junior programs are a part of my background and
I hold this event close to my heart."
The event's previous eight years has produced over
$370,000 for the local youth programs.
This years figures were not available at press time.
Some of the unique events participants competed in
were a team basketball shoot, chipping contest, 'Hit a Home Run,' blindfolded
tee-shot, men's and women's longest drive and closest to the pin.
Another event was qualifying for CenturyTel's million
dollar Shootout.
Set up at the par three, number 17 hole, the golfer
who was closest to the pin had the opportunity to take one shot for the
money.
Qualifying for the event was Mount Pleasant resident
Randy Gallagher, who placed his shot within 11 feet of the hole.
To win the money, Gallagher had to make a hole-in-one
from 165 yards.
Gallagher was unsuccessful in his attempt.
In addition to CenturyTel, some of the other corporate
sponsors were Aramark/CMU Dining Services, Bank One, Campbell Printing
Inc., Central Michigan Inns, Centennial Wireless, GTE, Guilianni Photography,
Kyle's Manufacturing Company, Morbark Industries, Pepsi, Waste Management
and WinnCel Cellular.
Gary Friedman, CMU associate athletics director, said
the support from corporate sponsors, the community and volunteers is what
makes the event a success.
"The event went well, the weather was great and the
people enjoyed all of the events," Friedman said.
"The combined efforts and hard work of the sponsors
and volunteers is what makes the event successful. Everyone was pleased
with the event and felt good about how the day went."
As with past events, a handful of celebrities were
on hand to participate in the event.
Present for the event were Dallas Drake, former Red
Wings player; Mike Stapleton, from the New York Islanders; Tom Tresh,
former Chippewa and New York Yankee; Judd Folske, CMU head baseball coach
and Jay Smith, CMU head men's basketball coach.
After a day of golf, participants had the opportunity
to bid on various items in a silent auction.
Some of the items available were travel packages to
see the Chicago Cubs, Miami Heat, Cincinnati Bengals, 2001 Orange Bowl
and Rose Bowl.
Other items included various autographed baseballs
and pictures, tickets to local sporting events, gift certificates to local
establishments, DVD players, camcorders and a Web TV package.
"This is a great event," Tresh said. "Having fun and
helping out is what this is all about"
