Harbor Cup Continues Tradition of Giving for Local Charities Harbor Springs, Mich. – The Harbor Cup golf event, which brings together PGA professionals from BOYNE Golf and the Petoskey/Harbor Springs region, has become part of the fabric of holiday giving in Northern Michigan. Over the past 29 years, the event has raised more than $1.2 million, benefiting the local charities such as Manna Food Project, First Tee-Northern Michigan, and PGA HOPE (Helping our Patriots Everywhere). The annual fall event was held September 29-30 at Hidden River Golf & Casting Club, where PGA professionals from BOYNE Golf properties were matched against PGA professionals from Petoskey/Harbor Springs area golf courses (Team Harbor). Team Harbor won this year’s 54-hole, Ryder Cup-style event 16-8. The competition consisted of Day 1 morning Four-Ball Matches followed by afternoon Foursome Matches. Team Harbor got off to a quick start earning a 4-2 lead after Four-Ball play. Afternoon Foursome also went to Team Harbor, 5-1, behind some solid play by several Team Harbor members. With Team Harbor up 9-3 heading into Tuesday Singles Matches, Team Boyne knew they faced an uphill battle. The real winners in this event are the charities. Team BOYNE professionals raised more than $125,000 for the designated charities including Manna Food Project, PGA HOPE, and First Tee-Northern Michigan. The donations resulted from the year-long fundraising effort leading up to and following the event. “The Harbor Cup is always a special event for all of the players, but what truly matters is the good it allows us to do,” said Corey May, Crooked Tree Golf Club Head Professional and Team BOYNE’s Harbor Cup Captain. “For nearly three decades, this event has become one of Northern Michigan’s most cherished traditions and rallies our golf community to raise meaningful dollars for local charities, and that impact is far more important than any scorecard. We’re incredibly proud to continue a tradition that brings people together and makes a difference across Northern Michigan.” The Team BOYNE Harbor Cup included team captain Corey May and assistant captains Josh Richter, Bernie Friedrich, Bob Prange, and Jeff Roth. Players included Casey Powers, John Myers, Steve Niezgoda, Zach Zondlo, Chaz Babin, Scott Pussehl, Avry Freel, Brian Jakeway, Bob Wilson, Katie Milliman, and Mac Montagne. Team Harbor raised just over $83,000 towards additional local charities including the Nehemiah Project, the NCMC Foundation for affordable childcare services for area workers, Manna Food Project, and a donation to the Munson Healthcare Foundation in honor of Jennifer Myers (Pro of John Myers) who passed away this summer from Breast Cancer. "It was a perfect two days of fall golf and camaraderie," said Shaun Bezilla, "we are thrilled with the charity dollars raised this year and equally as pleased to retain The Cup." Team Harbor was represented by Jason George, Matt Shalhoup, Harry Dixon, Shaun Bezilla, Corey Crowell, Robert Getzmeyer, Pete Makarov, Kevin McKinley, Keith Grunch, Alex Jordan, Kyle Roman, and Zach Van Antwerp. Representing Team Boyne was Corey May, Chaz Babin, Max Montagne, Brian Jakeway, Avery Freel, Zach Zondlo, Casey Powers, John Myers, Scott Pussehl, Bob Wilson, Katie Millman and Steve Niezgoda. |