The 30th outing of the Edwin B. Hales Bulldog Bench Golf Classic took place on May 20 at the prestigious Redlands Country Club and raised important funds for the University of Redlands student-athlete experience. The tournament involved community members, business representatives, alumni, and friends of the Bulldogs in a fun-filled day that netted more than $42,000 for the athletics department.
"We are always appreciative of the athletic community's support and involvement in this critical endeavor. Our success begins and ends with the positive results of this event," Director of Athletics Jeff Martinez stated.
Overall, the event relies on the generous support of consistent and loyal corporate sponsors that supplied $26,000 in donations to this year's tournament. These significant supporters include top-level donors Brian R. Bloom-Architect and KAR Construction, as well as Morrissey Associates, Tilden-Coil Constructors, Beaver Medical Group, Couts Heating & Cooling, Daktronics, Hughes Marino Real Estate, Lee & Associates, Mountain West Financial, and Tovey/Shultz Construction. The Bulldogs also welcomed back Hatfield Buick GMC as the hole-in-one sponsor.
In addition to corporate sponsors and golfer fees, Redlands collected income from multiple tee sponsors, cash donors, an opportunity drawing, the Las Vegas hole, mulligans, and more.
Prior to teeing off at the Redlands Country Club, participants enjoyed an informative clinic by PGA Professional and Bulldog Hall of Famer Ron Stockton '94.
During the dinner program, golfers learned more about the Bulldog student-athlete experience through All-American golfer Keilee Bessho's '19 shared reflections. They also picked up donated door prizes, received golf awards, and participated in silent and live auctions that were supplemented in part by generous contributors and organized by Larry Zucker '81 and his company The Gavel Group. Zucker and his team joined the Bulldog Bench Golf Classic in 2017 and continue to add another level of giving to the outstanding day.
Next year's Edwin B. Hales Bulldog Bench Golf Classic is set for May 18, 2020, at the Redlands Country Club.
To view photos from this year's event, please visit the 2019 photo album: https://www.goredlands.com/Fan_Central/Bulldog_Bench/2019-EBH-BDB-Golf-Classic
To join the Bulldog Bench or to learn more, please visit the Bulldog Bench home page at http://www.goredlands.com/Fan_Central/Bulldog_Bench/general.