For the 6th year, local professionals and amateurs teamed up on the Raptor Course to participate in what Grayhawk’s Joe “Shoe” Shershenovich called a “local major” to raise much-needed charity dollars and settle bragging rights between The Thunderbirds and Charros. This year, however, the competition was eclipsed by Antigua’s 40-year anniversary. We caught up with Antigua President & CEO, Ron McPherson, Thunderbird Chance Cozby and Joe Shoe to get their take on the event as well as the momentous milestone reached by Antigua.
Supporting Antigua, Supporting Veterans
“The event is really about gathering the Arizona golf community together to support Ron and Antigua and all they do for our veterans,” said Shoe.
Held on or near 9/11, this lighthearted event has a serious side in terms of caring for our veterans. For Antigua, that means donating approximately 2,500 cold weather apparel items to various veteran groups for project “Keep them Warm” in Prescott, Yuma, Flagstaff, Tucson and Phoenix, something Antigua has done since the beginning. And this year’s silent auction yielded more than $1,000 for PGA Hope (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere). This adaptive golf program, offered by PGA Professionals, improves veterans’ quality of life by enhancing their mental, social, physical, and emotional well-being.
“The event is a great way for Antigua to say ‘thank you’ to those who support us,” said McPherson. “Like each of our prior years, we’re taking time to remember those lost on 9/11 as well as doing what we can to help the homeless veteran community in Arizona and veterans around the United States through our affiliation with PGA Hope.”
About Antigua
For those of you who don’t have a dozen Antigua shirts hanging in your closet, or maybe you just don’t know the backstory: The Antigua Group, Inc. is a leading designer and marketer of men’s, women’s and children’s lifestyle apparel and sportswear.
Golf is definitely Antigua’s most identifiable association to sports with acronyms such as PGA and LPGA making up a big bowl of the Antigua alphabet soup. But they also offer healthy servings of NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, MLS, Minor League Baseball, NASCAR, and hundreds of colleges and universities.
As Antigua grew over the past 40 years, its commitment to exceptional quality and unparalleled customer care never changed. This vision continues to effectively meet the challenges of today while maximizing the bright opportunities of tomorrow.
Thunderbirds Triumph
In The Thunderbirds/Charros Cup, as expected, The Thunderbirds retained their title with a 4 ½ to 1 ½ victory. All parties declined our request for comment. That’s that.
In the competition after the competition known as the “Dry Heave,” participants stepped up to the 10th tee and hit a 75-yard shot over the lake to the 18th green. It’s a closest to the pin contest where all 150 players gather around under the lights, beverage in hand, and “encourage” each other to do their very best.
Nate Fordice, professional playing out of Grayhawk knocked it closest at 11 feet, 4 inches. Alice Scott, freelance golf travel writer, came in second place at 12 feet, 1 inch and John Lyberger, Director of Golf at Desert Mountain, came in third at 13 feet, 10 inches.
Why Grayhawk?
“Grayhawk is one of the finest facilities in the country,” said McPherson. “Antigua is privileged to have its event here.”
Well Ron, we’ll give you the first one, but honestly, the privilege is all ours!
To next year!
MORE THAN JUST GOLF!
