Towne & Gown Golf Classic Raises More Than $28,000
Nearly 100 golfers participated in the second annual Western University of Health Sciences Towne & Gown Golf Classic, helping raise more than $28,000 to benefit the University Scholarship Fund thanks to the generosity of sponsor T.F. Chen, DDS, who underwrote the entire golf fundraiser.
The scramble-format tournament was held on Monday, June 18, 2012 at the Glendora Country Club.
"Our students usually come out of school with a couple hundred thousand dollars’ worth of debt," said WesternU Senior Vice President Thomas G. Fox, PhD, during the reception dinner. "Every dime we can get for a scholarship is important."
Dr. Fox was impressed with the growth of this year’s tournament from its inaugural
tournament in 2011.
Dr. Chen, who helped revive the event in 2011, said he would be sponsoring the event for another eight years, totaling 10 years of underwriting the golf classic. He thanked everyone for coming to the fundraiser and said he looks forward to doing better every year.
New to this year’s tourney was the golf ball drop, where a helicopter dropped 165 numbered golf balls at a designated flag on the driving range from about 80 feet up.
About $1,300 worth of golf balls were sold. Dr. Fox, who bought balls numbered 10-19, won the 50-50 raffle with ball No. 13. He immediately donated his portion back to the scholarship fund.
"It sends a message that this outing is about scholarships," he said.
Like last year, golfers purchased five feet of string, mulligans, and free tosses that gave them special advantages to improve scores, all helping raise money for student scholarships.
Symes Cadillac of Pasadena also sponsored the hole-in-one competition for a chance to win a 2012 Cadillac. No one won the Cadillac SRX that was on display at the putting green.
Following a dinner reception, golfers were awarded trophies for closest to the pin and longest drive for men and women; reverse Stableford scoring for the four teams that scored the highest gross scores; and four winning teams that had the lowest gross scores.
Dr. Pumerantz and WesternU Board of Trustees member John T. McGwire, DDS, drove a beverage cart around the golf course, meeting and talking with everyone for a second year.
This year, Dr. McGwire took home the ‘longest drive’ trophy for literally being the one who had the longest drive by driving around the course four times.
Dr. Fox said Susan Terrazas, director of annual giving and her associates Austin Braunwalder and Jenette Muhar did a great job with the event.
College of Pharmacy Dean Daniel Robinson, College of Podiatric Medicine Dean Lawrence Harkless, College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Phillip Nelson, College of Optometry Dean Elizabeth Hoppe and College of Dental Medicine Dean Steven Friedrichsen all participated in the tournament.
In addition, there were many sponsors who helped make a difference: Tournament Sponsor T.F. Chen D.D.S.; Platinum Sponsor Mike Quick, Amerisource Bergen; Silver Sponsors Clinton Adams, D.O., MPA, FACHE; Edgar Acosta, McKesson; Chad Bruce, William Signs Co.; Scott Carriveau, DPR Construction; Steve Chiang & Linda Liu, FCC Group International; Dr. James Fitzgerald, Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital; Victor Law, UPNI; Wade McMullen, Vincenti, Lloyd, & Stutzman; Larry Mullins, Samaritan Health Services; Cyndie O’Brien, Inter Valley Health Plan; Hole in One Sponsor Symes Cadillac of Pasadena; Tee Sponsors John Hodgman, Direct Connection and The Keating Family; Closest to the Pin Sponsors John Hodgman, Direct Connection, Frank Hsu, Inland Pulmonary Medical Group, LeRoy Haynes Center and Vincent Naimoli.
