The Myrtle Beach PGA Patriots, a group of 21 golf industry professionals, donated $131,066 to Folds of Honor on Veterans Day, meeting an ambitious fundraising goal.
The Myrtle Beach PGA Patriots launched Patriot Golf Day in 2014 and the event has grown into a 3-day weekend, culminating with a 100-hole golf marathon, that is one of the top five Folds of Honor fundraisers of its kind in America.
The event is held over Labor Day weekend and this year included a banquet on Friday, Aug. 30 at the Conference Center at Barefoot Resort, the “Battle for Glory,” a match-play event the public competed in on Aug. 31 at Thistle Golf Club, and the 100-hole marathon at Long Bay Golf Club on Sept. 1.
The Folds of Honor foundation dedicates 86 cents of every dollar raised to providing scholarships to children of America’s fallen or disabled service members. The non-profit organization awards scholarships in $5,000 increments, so the money raised means 22 families will receive scholarship money as a result of the effort.
“We are delighted to have met our goal of raising $130,000, but even more than that, it’s incredibly gratifying to know we are able to help the families of American military personnel,” said Jimmy Biggs, the general manager at Pine Lakes Country Club and a founding member of the Myrtle Beach PGA Patriots. “I’m a golf pro. I have the best job in the world, and I can do that based on the sacrifice members of the military have made. Patriot Golf Day is our way of saying thanks to the men and women willing to sacrifice everything to protect our freedom.”
Nineteen of the Myrtle Beach PGA Patriots competed in the 100-hole marathon, making a total of 408 birdies, 15 eagles and raising $26,265 via performance based pledges.
Members of the 2019 Myrtle Beach PGA Patriots were: Matt Biddington (Legends Resort), Jimmy Biggs (Pine Lakes), Michael Benson (Crow Creek), Matt Daly (Founders Group International), Brad Crumling (World Tour), Jeff Davis (Crow Creek), Casey Cook (Founders Group International), Corey Bowers (Aberdeen/Long Bay), Jason Corneau (Prestwick), Dustin Powers (Myrtlewood), Jeff Diehl (Myrtle Beach Golf Trek), Joe Dipre (Grande Dunes), Doug Donner (International Club/Thistle), Jarrin Josue (Compass Cove Resort), Jennifer Lundberg (Blackmoor), Eric Morgan (Lockwood Folly), Ted Panaretos II (Pine Lakes), Brian Stefan (iNet Golf), Scott Thrailkill (Brunswick Plantation), Mike Binder (Ahead/2UNDR), Mike Buccerone (East Coast Golf).
In all, the Myrtle Beach PGA Patriots received 822 donations, with Biddington ($25,233) and Biggs ($21,275) leading the way.
The amount of the money the group has raised has increased by more 300 percent in the last three years. The six Patriot Golf Day events have now raised $400,000.