Southwest Florida golf column: CME adds breast cancer charity with Wounded Warrior Project

CME Group and the LPGA expanded the Race to the CME Globe weekend charitable program in 2016 to include Bright Pink, a national non-profit organization focused on the prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women.  Bright Pink joins Wounded Warrior Project in the expanded partnership for CME Group Cares Weekend.

“We are honored to join CME Group and the LPGA in this exciting partnership,” Bright Pink Founder and CEO Lindsay Avner said in a release.  “Together, our impact will be unmatched and we will teach thousands of young women to take action and be proactive with their breast and ovarian health.”

CME Group Cares Weekend is a season-long charitable giving program that turns eagles into donations.  For each eagle recorded during weekend play (Saturday and Sunday) throughout the 2016 LPGA Tour season, CME Group donates $1,000 to the program’s total donation count.  During the CME Group Tour Championship, from Nov. 15-20 at Tiburón Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort the amount contributed per eagle increases to $5,000 throughout the weekend.

The money raised will go toward a charitable pool and be split evenly between Wounded Warrior Project and Bright Pink.  The total program donation will be celebrated during the 18th green ceremony following play on Sunday, Nov. 20, and  CME Group and the LPGA will present a formal check to Wounded Warrior Project and Bright Pink representing the season-long donations.

“Wounded Warrior Project is honored to have the continued support of CME Group and the LPGA,” said Mike Linnington, chief executive officer at WWP.  “The LPGA’s charitable giving has made it possible for us to continue connecting wounded veterans with programs and services that empower them to live life to the fullest and on their own terms.  We’re extremely grateful for their generosity and look forward to a great weekend with our warriors out on the course.”

Following the TOTO Japan Classic last weekend, LPGA Tour professionals have recorded a total of 278 eagles -- eight behind last year's total -- throughout weekend play bringing the CME Group Cares Weekend donation pot to $278,000 leading into the final event prior to returning to Naples.

Tamulis update: Naples High School graduate Kris Tamulis sits in 70th on the Race to the CME Globe standings, with just this week's LPGA Tour event in Mexico remaining before the CME Group Tour Championship. The top 72 automatically qualify. Tamulis is not in the field for Lorena Ochoa's event, but there are four golfers behind her who are in the field who could possibly pass her, depending on how they do -- Mariajo Uribe (73rd), Katie Burnett (75th), Jing Yan (81st) and former U.S. Women's Open champion Michelle Wie (115th). 

Inbee Park, who is 71st, said Monday that she was taking the last two weeks of the season -- and that includes next week in Naples -- off to rest her bothersome thumb injury.

Scramble Fore Sarah: The fourth annual charity tournament named after Sarah Hardwig (my daughter, who is blind) and benefiting the Lighthouse of Collier, Inc., and Foundation Fighting Blindess will be Sunday, Dec. 11 at Tiburon Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, the day after the PGA Tour's Franklin Templeton Shootout wraps up.

The entry fee is $150 and includes a boxed lunch and awards ceremony. Registration starts at 11:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. For more information, contact Greg Hardwig at greg.hardwig@gmail.com or to register go to https://secure2.convio.net/ffb/site/Ticketing;jsessionid=22190989EE72D98E649D1DEA98A8AAF5.app267b?view=Tickets&id=101221

LPGA Girls Golf Charity Pro-Am: The inaugural tournament was played Thursday at Wildcat Run Country Club in Estero, and raised $13,500. for the local Naples LPGA Girls Golf Program.

A total of 22 female professionals, including three Symetra Tour players, several former LPGA tour players and LPGA or PGA professionals, teamed up with ladies from Wildcat Run for the scramble event. Two teams tied with a 12-under-par 60s, and an eagle on the par-5 18th hole broke the tie in the straight scramble.

Pro Samantha Troyanovich from the Symetra Tour, Kathleen Fitzgerald, Carla Byck and Ann Comfort won the scorecard playoff, over pro Jackie Stoelting from the Symetra Tour, Jill Kirsammer, Pam Bishop and  Mary Jane Hiestand. There was also a tie for third place with two scores at 11-under 61. Another eagle on the 18th hole broke that tie, giving third to pro Jennifer Ha from the Symetra Tour, Dianne Paton, Jeannie Knight and Mary English. Kaitie Bensch, an assistant pro at Vasari, was fourth with amateurs Mary Joyce, Becky Townsend and Cheryl Bogard.

Impact Zone Golf: Upcoming non-junior event, Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Signature Golf School with Bobby Clampett. Go to impactzonegolf.com or call 236-5536.

Alico Family Golf: Offering after-school junior golf from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning Nov. 29. The cost is $100 for five lessons or a $25 "drop-in" fee. Maximum of five students per session. Contact Jeremy Wells at jeremy@alicofamilygolf.com or (804) 931-6299.

Patri/Graham clinics: The cost is $125 per clinic -- Nov. 17, putting; Dec. 1, pitching; Dec. 15, bunker play; Jan. 5, iron play; Jan. 19, hybrids; Feb. 2, fairway woods; Feb. 16, driving. Each clinic is 3 to 5 p.m. Instructors Tom Patri and Gail Graham will host each clinic together, with a maximum of six students per clinic. Email Gail Graham at gailgrahamgolf@gmail.com to sign up.

FGCU PGM Jones Cup: The FGCU Professional Golf Management team finished second in the Jones Cup at Port St. Lucie's PGA Golf Club on Thursday. FGCU had a three-stroke lead after the first round on Nov. 1, but shot seven strokes worse -- a 302 -- in the final round and finished three shots behind defending champion New Mexico State.

Alex Reynolds shot 70-77/147 to lead FGCU, followed by Alex Holt (74-75/149), Matthew Chen (74-76/150), Tanner Nipper (77-76/153) and Mei Khuan Yong (79-75/154).

Wine, Wings and Wedges: Hibiscus Golf Club will have a grand opening of its 2,500-square-foot pitching green and 1,000 square feet of practice bunkers on Friday at 4 p.m. Free wine and wings complimentary of Erin's Isle Restaurant, and short-game clinics by Dennis Meyer's Golf School and director of golf Mike Smuniewski. Hibiscus Golf Club is located at 5375 Hibiscus Dr. off Rattlesnake-Hammock Rd. in East Naples.

South Florida PGA GolfPass: The 2017 annual passes are on sale, with renewal rates of $45 ($5 off until Jan. 31) or $50 for new members. Purchasing four or more will be $46 apiece, or $44 for eight or more.  Anyone making a GolfPass purchase from Nov. 1-Jan. 31 will receive a free practice round ticket to the PGA Tour's Honda Classic, in addition to 50 percent off all ticket offers for the tournament, which is Feb. 23-26. The Champions Tour's Allianz Championship also will be offering a discount of 50 percent on grounds tickets for the tournament, which is Feb. 10-12. To purchase, go to sfpgagolf.com or call (561) 729-0544.

To submit an item, email ghardwig@naplesnews.com.