Lincoln, RI – Sunshine and patriotic spirit filled the air at Kirkbrae Country Club as the New England PGA and PGA REACH New England proudly hosted their flagship fundraising event, The REACH Classic, raising over $45,000 to support military veterans. Originally scheduled for June 23 before being rained out, the rescheduled fall date delivered a pristine day on the course for the annual tournament, which directly supports PGA REACH New England’s Military Veteran Pillar. Bringing together professional, amateur, and veteran golfers, a field of 84 players gathered to make an impact, with every entry helping fund local PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) programming.
The day began with player registration, where Tournament Solutions gifted participants custom PGA REACH New England coolers loaded with swag, while Swannies outfitted every player with a new golf polo. Following a pre-round lunch, the silent auction opened with a lineup of sports memorabilia, bucket-list trips, unique experiences, and premium golf gear up for grabs. Opening ceremonies set an inspiring tone as Sgt. Daniel M. Clark, “The Singing Trooper” and U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, delivered stirring renditions of “America the Beautiful,” “God Bless America,” and “The Ragged Old Flag,” culminating in a powerful performance of the National Anthem before the 1:00 PM shotgun start.
Throughout the afternoon, players navigated Kirkbrae’s par-72 championship layout while supporting interactive on-course fundraisers and enjoying on-course refreshments. A popular 50/50 raffle drew strong support with all proceeds benefiting military programming, while a PGA HOPE Squares board completely sold out, awarding lucky winners a Scotty Cameron putter, a TaylorMade Spider putter, and a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses. Competition was fierce at the top of the leaderboard, with main sponsor Bob Gorton leading his Gorton & Company team of John Lawrence, Eric Gillberg, and Brian Dunleavy to top gross honors with a 5-under-par 67. In the net division, dedicated supporters from Team Side by Side—comprising Bill McGuirk, Laureen McGuirk, Tom Valorie, and Pat Burbidge—captured the title with a remarkable 14-under-par round of 58.
The event concluded with a cocktail hour and dinner where players and sponsors mingled before an emotional evening program. PGA HOPE Captain Blake Crist delivered a powerful speech detailing his personal journey through the program, emphasizing how golf and military camaraderie genuinely save lives. Additionally, PGA HOPE Certified Instructor Jo-Anna Krupa, PGA, of Fresh Pond Golf Course, shared her perspective on watching veterans build lifelong bonds and establishing a true sense of family through the game.
The REACH Classic was made possible through the generous support of main sponsor Gorton & Company, led by Bob Gorton, along with key partners Tournament Solutions, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and Swannies. Special gratitude goes to Tito’s and NEPGA President, Joanne Flynne, PGA from Windham Country Club for sponsoring an incredible on-course beverage station, as well as Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP for sponsoring the driving range. A special thank you also goes out to Jason Howard, PGA, Mike Bradshaw, PGA, COO, and the entire staff and membership at Kirkbrae Country Club for their incredible hospitality in making the day a triumph, raising over $45,000 for military veterans.