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Towne & Gown Golf Classic raises more than $30,000

by Rodney Tanaka

June 19, 2014

Read 3 mins

Western University of Health Sciences’ fourth annual Towne & Gown Golf Classic raised more than $30,000 to benefit the Towne & Gown Endowed Scholarship thanks to the generosity of T.F. Chen, DDS, who underwrote green fees, lunch and dinner, and several other sponsors.

Nearly 100 golfers participated in the scramble-format tournament on Monday, June 16, 2014 at Red Hill Country Club in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

WesternU Senior Vice President Thomas Fox said the endowment funded two $1,000 scholarships this year and will fund three scholarships in 2015. The next goal for the endowed scholarship is to top $100,000.

"If Dr. Chen and the other sponsors keep supporting the golf tournament, the revenue we generate goes right to bottom line, and we’ll keep adding a scholarship a year," Dr. Fox said. "Because they’re university-wide scholarships, students from any of our nine colleges can apply."

Fox was excited that WesternU employees have been involved in this affordable and fun golf tournament, allowing them to contribute toward raising funds for student scholarships.

Claremont’s DoubleTree by Hilton General Manager Andrew Behnke won the helicopter golf ball drop and the 50-50 cash prize. A helicopter team dropped more than 225 numbered golf balls at a designated flag, and Behnke’s’ ball landed closest to the pin. He immediately used his split to purchase 15 remaining raffle tickets and won a gift basket.

Brett Mieding, part of a foursome with John Forbing, Steve Johnson and Ray Andersen, made a hole-in-one on the 211-yard par-3 sixth hole.

Several other sponsors helped make a difference:

– Tournament sponsor was T.F. Chen, DDS

– Hole in one sponsor was Mark Christopher Auto Center with a Cadillac CTS Coupe

– Beer sponsor was MillerCoors, Irwindale

– Soda and water sponsor was DoubleTree by Hilton, Claremont

– Tournament golf shirt sponsor was Inter Valley Health Plan

– Cart sponsor was Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital

– Registration sponsor was Wells Fargo Advisors

Platinum sponsor was Wells Fargo Bank. Silver sponsors included John Forbing, State Farm; Mutual of America Life Insurance Company; William Sign Co. and Samaritan Health Services.

Following a dinner reception, the three teams with the lowest gross scores were awarded trophies:

First Place: Andrew Behnke, Mark Hardy, Jason Christie and Justin Assael — DoubleTree

Second Place: John Forbing, Steve Johnson, Ray Andersen and Brett Mieding

Third Place: Greg Burandt, Brett Burandt, Nef Cortez and Brian Montoya

Three teams were awarded trophies for having the highest gross score, or reverse Stableford:

Third Place: Cyndie O’Brien, Don McCain and Larry Baca – Inter Valley Health Plan

Second Place: Ramon Godinas, Jaime Gonzalez and Russel Heskin

First Place: Dr. Elizabeth Rega, Dr. Laura Rush, Stone Atkinson and Haley Starr

This year, Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences Dean Michel Baudry, PhD, took home the "longest drive" trophy for literally being the one with the longest drive. Along with WesternU Provost Gary Gugelchuk, PhD, the pair carried on a tradition established by WesternU President Philip Pumerantz, PhD, and Board of Trustees member John T. McGwire, DDS, driving a beverage cart around the golf course.

Dr. Chen said he enjoys that this tournament is affordable for everyone to participate in, to help students afford health professions school. He was also impressed in the great job the WesternU staff did organizing this tournament.

"It’s exciting to see so many individuals come together for the purpose of supporting student scholarships at WesternU," said Austin Braunwalder, assistant director of annual giving. "Year after year we receive unwavering enthusiasm from our players and sponsors."

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