Special Olympics from the First Coast will have access to golf equipment thanks to The Players Championship. With the athletes in the front row are (back row, left to right), Hidden Hills general manager Russ Libby, Robin Luck of Special Olympics, Players Community Relations manager Marjorie Dennis, Players director of community outreach Emily Bellock, Players executive director Lee Smith, Players volunteer chairman Marc Hassan and Shelby Henry and Linsey Smith of Special Olympics.
Special Olympian golfers on the First Coast got a helping hand from The Players Championship.
Two dozen sets of clubs were donated to the Special Olympics Florida Northeast Region from The Players, for shared use by 58 athletes in the five-county area.
“We are profoundly grateful to The Players Championship for their incredible donation of golf equipment,” said Shelley Henry, Northeast Regional Director of Special Olympics Florida, in a statement. “This ensures our athletes have access to quality equipment, allowing them to hone their skills and fully participate in the sport they love. This contribution significantly enhances our mission to foster inclusivity and provide meaningful opportunities for our athletes to succeed.”
This donation was made possible through The Players Equipment Grant Program, in which equipment from the PGA Tour Superstore is provided to local nonprofits. Interested nonprofits are encouraged to apply to the program for future opportunities.
“We are honored to support Special Olympics Florida Northeast Region by providing much-needed golf equipment,” said Players Executive Director Lee Smith. “At the heart of our mission is a commitment to inclusivity and community engagement. We believe that every individual should have the opportunity to enjoy the game of golf and experience the benefits of sports participation.”
For more information about The Players Championship and its community initiatives, please visit theplayers.com/community.
Founded in 1972, Special Olympics Florida provides year-round sports training and competition, crucial health services, and life-changing leadership programs to children and adults with intellectual disabilities. It serves more than 75,000 Special Olympics athletes annually, at no cost to athletes or their families. To learn more, visit specialolympicsflorida.org.
David Anthony wins two before ouster
David Anthony of Jacksonville won two matches by 2 and 1 scores before falling in the championship division semifinals of the Florida State Golf Association Super-Senior Match Play to Blake Marshall of Palm Coast, 3 and 2, at PGA National in Port St. Lucie.
Marshall then lost to Pete Williams of Juno Beach 4 and 3 in the final match.
Patrick Coyne of St. Augustine was the championship division third-flight winner.
Bruce Moskovciak of Jacksonville shot 71 to earn top seed in the 70-74 year-old division and lost in the first round of match play 5 and 4 to eventual division champion Mark Weston of Winderemere.
Juniors can play free golf
The North Florida Junior Golf Foundation is sponsoring a series of free golf play days for junior players between the ages of 10-15 years old, which began last week and will continue through mid-July.
The following courses are offering the free golf, on a first-come, first-served basis at the times listed. Players must register at nfjg.org or call (904) 868-9535.
-
Jacksonville Beach: June 29, 11:30 a.m.; July 3, 5:30 p.m.
-
Palm Valley: July 10, 1:30 p.m.
-
Blue Cypress: June 20, 27; July 3, 11, 8 a.m.
Chloe McGrath wins in Palm City
Chloe McGrath, a member of the Bolles golf team, shot steady rounds of 71-70–141 at the Hammock Creek Golf Club in Palm City to win the Southeast Florida State Invitational last week by two shots over Morgan Cole of Boca Raton. … Frank Jurney of Marsh Landing beat his age by more than double digits on June 2, two days after his 83rd birthday. Jurney shot 69 at Marsh Landing to top his age by 13 shots. … The JAGA Jacksonville Amateur entry deadline has been extended from June 15 to July 1, or until 96 entries have been received. To enter or for more information visit jaxareagolf.org.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Players Championship donates two dozen sets of clubs to Special Olympics
