ANDOVER, Mass. – The second annual Birdies 2 Benefit fundraiser to benefit PGA REACH New England, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Special Olympics Massachusetts raised $192,812 at Andover Country Club Monday, August 15th, 2022.
Thirty-six players, in combinations of twosomes, threesomes, or single players, set out to play 54 holes of golf at Andover Country Club with the mission to make as many birdies as possible. In total, the Birdies 2 Benefit squad racked up 483 birdies in the scramble or individual stroke play format event.
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Team Menery Tree, composed of Matt Lombard, PGA, Nathan Myers, PGA, and Rob Neaton, brought in the most birdies of the event, with a total of 44 birdies. Team Menery Tree also raised a total of $6,241. In a unique honor, Lombard and Myers were former Assistant Professionals under Mike Menery, PGA, the long time Head Professional at Andover Country Club.
Team Vesper raised an impressive $23,925 for the three non-profit organizations with a total birdie count of 26. This twosome included James Scales, PGA, and Rich Berberian, PGA from Vesper Country Club.
Team Belden tallied 26 birdies representing Salem Country Club. The father daughter duo of Allan Belden, PGA, and Maddy Belden raised $12,192. Allan Belden, former President of the New England PGA, provided a recap of the day, following the completing of 54-holes,
“It went great. We made 26 birdies and met our goal. We raised a lot of money today. It was a lot of fun and an absolute blast being out here. Honestly, it was an honor and privilege to raise money for The Children’s Hospital and Special Olympics. I think anybody who has not yet participated should really consider participating next year.”
Bringing in the highest donation per birdie was Team Bay Club. They received $544.50 for each of the 27 birdies made by Ben Egan, PGA, and Joey Delorey.
Joel Jenkins, PGA, from Mt. Pleasant Golf Club raised $14,183 and collected 17 birdies for the three non-profit organizations. Joel racked up the most birdies out of all the individual participants in the Birdies 2 Benefit Fundraiser.
Colin Ford and Ned Sherman represented the 2022 NEPGA Intern class as Team INTRN 2022. The twosome raised $1,741 in donations and made a total of 18 birdies. Colin Ford, NEPGA Intern, summarized their day on the course as a first time participant of Birdies 2 Benefit,
“It was great. I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into it. Neither of us have ever played 54 holes in a day, as many people haven’t, but it was awesome. Everyone stepped up in the past 48 hours to raise the money that we could to support a couple great charities.”
Team Durocher, comprised of husband and wife duo Rick Durocher, PGA, and Shawn Durocher, PGA, represented Cyprian Keyes Golf Club at the 2022 Birdies 2 Benefit Event. They raised $7,381 for PGA REACH New England, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Special Olympics Massachusetts and made 24 birdies.
Team Andover, playing on their home course, collected 33 birdies. Host Golf Professionals CJ Talbert, PGA, and Ryan Taraskiewicz, PGA represented Team Andover and raised $13,384 in the 54-hole event.
With $22,387 in donations, Darren Falk, PGA, along with husband and wife duo of Jennifer O’Connor, PGA, and Joe O’Connor, PGA represented Holly Ridge Golf Club. Team Holly Ridge collected a total of 39 birdies. As a returning squad, Jennifer O’Connor gave insight into what Birdies 2 Benefit means to Team Holly Ridge:
“We are super proud to be a part of this event for year number two. When Michael asked us to be a part of Birdies 2 Benefit last year, we were absolutely thrilled to do it.”
Jennifer also touched on the impact this event will have on the three non-profit organizations,
“We were shocked last year and shocked again this year with the amount of money that can be raised!”
There were 18 different NEPGA affiliated clubs represented at the 2022 Birdies 2 Benefit fundraiser. Check out the list of participating clubs below:
Abenaqui Country Club
Andover Country Club
The Bay Club at Mattapoisett
Belmont Country Club
Bellevue Golf Club
The Club at New Seabury
Cohasset Golf Club
Cyprian Keyes Golf Club
Dedham Country & Polo Club
Golf Galaxy – Framingham
Holly Ridge Golf Club
Ipswich Country Club
Long Meadow Golf Club
Mount Pleasant Golf Club
North Andover Country Club
Salem Country Club
Tatnuck Country Club
Vesper Country Club
Worcester Country Club
Thank you to all the NEPGA professionals who participated in the Birdies 2 Benefit event and thank you to all donors who helped make the event such a success.
The third annual Birdies 2 Benefit Fundraiser is set to return to Andover Country Club in August of 2023!
A special thank you also goes out to the Cormier family along with Head Golf Professional CJ Talbert and the entire Andover Country Club staff for hosting the second annual Birdies 2 Benefit event.