Monday, May 17, 2010
NFL greats join local golfers June 16 to raise funds for student scholarships
PRINCESS ANNE, MD-May 13, 2010-The legendary Art Shell, pro football Hall of Famer and University of Maryland Eastern Shore alumnus, returns to the Shore on June 15 and 16 to host other NFL greats and area golfers during the Art Shell UMES Celebrity Golf Classic to benefit student scholarships for the university’s PGA Golf Management program.
This year’s two-day event takes place at Great Hope Golf Course in Westover, Md. and kicks off with an all-new Junior Golf Tournament on Tuesday, June 15, starting at 9 a.m. for golfers ages 11 to 18 years-old.
“It is fitting to add a junior tournament to the lineup for two main reasons,” said Marshall Cropper, director of the Golf Academy at UMES, tournament director and former player for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. “There is a lot of young local talent that the university would like to expose to the opportunities of the PGA Golf Management program at UMES and the tournament’s goal is to raise funds for students enrolled in the program.”
The main event, the Art Shell Celebrity Golf Classic, features an 8 a.m. shotgun start on Wednesday, June 16, 18 holes of play in a scramble format and an awards dinner in the Student Services Center ballroom at UMES. National Football League Hall of Fame members Elvin Bethea (Houston Oilers 1968-83), Art Shell (Oakland Raiders 1968-81, Los Angeles Raiders 1982, UMES Class of 1968) and Bobby Mitchell (Cleveland Browns 1958-61, Washington Redskins 1962-68) are among the football pros planning to participate. Also playing will be College Football Hall of Fame inductee Roger Brown (Detroit Lions 1960-66, Los Angeles Rams 1967-69, UMES Class of 1960) and Emerson Boozer (New York Jets 1966-1975, UMES Class of 1965), who is to be inducted into the College Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010 during the Enshrinement Festival July 16-17 in South Bend, Ind.
History makers in professional golf taking a swing for UMES include James Black, who made golf history in 1964 at the age of 21 by being the first black golfer to shoot a 67 on the first round of his first day of his PGA Tour; and Renee Powell, who joined the LPGA Tour in 1967 as the first African-American female golfer.
“Since its inception in 1991, with Art Shell’s endorsement, the event has always been fortunate to have the interest of local golfers and the financial support of local businesses,” said Cropper. “We’re looking forward to their support again this year.”
Player registration is $200 per individual and $750 per foursome and includes 18 holes of golf with a celebrity, the Legends Reception pairing party, food and beverages on the course, the awards dinner and commemorative gifts. Non-golfers can attend the Legends reception for $50 per person or $400 for a table of eight. The reception features Maryland-style cuisine with hard crabs, live entertainment and a silent auction.
“UMES, my alma mater, continues to reach students, many of whom are first generation college
