In another December week where golf activity was curtailed by miserable weather, the silver lining in all the clouds was the way things have so quickly come together for the Bryan Jackson Benefit Tournament Saturday, Jan. 9, at Belle Oaks.
A mere six weeks after the tournament idea was conceived, the event has a full field of 28 teams, some really nifty items for a silent auction have been donated and the Aurora Sertoma Club of Port Arthur has stepped up to be a partner in hosting and staging the event, thereby creating some tax benefits.
Jackson, who is going through a painful and difficult time in his life as he fights breast cancer, is about to discover that there are a lot of good folks who really care about him. And some others who don’t even know him– like Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips, former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson, former PGA Tour player Bruce Lietzke and Kansas City Chiefs star Jamaal Charles — who quickly responded when asked for auction items.
Phillips, for instance, is sending a football autographed by Cowboys QB Tony Romo, while Johnson sent a limited edition autographed poster from his induction into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, as well as an autographed poster of him, Jerry Jones and several Cowboys stars adorned with all the Super Bowl rings up through the first chamipionship he won in Dallas.
Lietzke, meanwhile, arranged for a golf package for four at the new TPC San Antonio designed by Greg Norman that will begin hosting the Valero Texas Open this spring. Charles, who has been one of the hottest backs in the NFL since Nov. 15, provided an autographed NFL football, an autographed Kansas City Chiefs jersey and an autographed photo.
Among others in the sports world contributing are Chris Stroud, who is bringing a $450 certificate for a custom-fitted driver from one of his sponsors — Ping. Stroud, of course, is also going to play as one of the tournament’s celebrities and is expected to bring substanial dollars during the Friday night, Jan. 8, player auction at the Nederland Eagles Club.
Numerous other golf packages will be available at the silent auction, including one from the new National Golf Club of Louisiana in Westlake. Former PGA Tour player Marty Fleckman, the director of instruction at BlackHorse Golf Club in Houston, is donanting a one-hour video lesson with a take home DVD.
An additional source of revenue will come from a golf cart donated by Paradise Golf Carts in Crystal Beach. Raffle tickets will be sold on the cart.
Besides the silent auction, the other major source of revenue will be the celebrity player auction. Stroud heads that list, which includes area major league baseball players Kevin Millar and Brian Sanches, former Astros manager Larry Dierker, former major leaguer David Clyde, MLS soccer star Davy Arnaud and rising golf stars like Michael Arnaud and Andrew Landry.
Heading up the committee that has made so much happen in such a short time is Babe Zaharias pro Ed Campbell. Others on the committee include Art Lecoq, Larry Guidry, Twyman Ash, Mike Barnett, Barry Stelley, Bill Hanley and Sheldon Arnaud
CHIP SHOTS: Jim Brown, with plus four points, won the Monday Seniors at Belle Oaks. Rufus Mier was second at minus two, followed by Norm Shannon at minus 8. Mier was the closest to th pin winner on No. 15 . . . The team of Larry Stansbury, Tony Trevino, Pete Reobroi and Cap Hollier won the Babe Zaharias DogFight at 14&4. There was a tie for second between the foursome of Darrell Dugas, Larry Johnson, Gene Harrison and Clay Lewis (13&3) and the fivesome of Troy Sedatole, Rick Pritchett, Randy Vincent, Ray Trahan and Bobby Hebert (13&4). Buddy Sepeda (No. 2) and Stansbury (No. 12) were closest to the pin winners.
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