Prior to being named the 2002 LPGA Rookie of the Year, Beth Bauer earned All-American honors at Duke. (Courtesy of floridamilk.com)

Beth Bauer to host Celebrity Pro-Am in Brandon

BRANDON, Fla. - Beth Bauer, the 2002 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year on the LPGA Tour, is set to host the Beth Bauer Celebrity Pro-Am Classic Feb. 9, 2004 at the River Hills Country Club in Brandon, Florida.

The two-day Greater Brandon Charity Golf Classic is presented by the Brandon Times (an edition of the St. Petersburg Times). The event is being organized by the Greater Brandon Community Foundation. The Beth Bauer Celebrity Pro-Am Classic is being staged in conjunction with the Feb. 8 inaugural Tournament of Champions, which will bring together an invited field of greater Brandon area charity tournament participants.

Bauer graduated from Bloomingdale High School and was an American Junior Golf Association All-American 1997-99 before making All-American honors at Duke University and launching her pro career. One of the chief beneficiaries of the tournament will be the John Bauer Scholarship Fund, named in honor of her late father.

"I'm really thrilled about the chance to establish this scholarship fund in my father's name and to help other local charities, as well," said Bauer. "I got my start in this golf-rich area, and this is an excellent chance for me to give something back to the community. You hear that all the time, I guess, but I mean it. This is giving back to my father, too."

Bauer will be joined by celebrities Peter Tom Willis, quarterback for the Chicago Bears from 1990 to 1993 and Andy McGaffigan, formerly a pitcher for the Yankees, Giants, Reds, Expos and Royals. Colleen Walker, 1997 winner of both the du Maurier Classic and the Star Bank LPGA Classic will also join Bauer. Senator Tom Lee, Speaker of the House, Johnnie Byrd and state representative Sandy Murman along with other elected officials have also been invited to attend.

The Pro-Am activities will kick off on the evening of February 8th with a pairings party at the River Hills Country Club. Early event sponsors include Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba's Italian Grill. A spot in the Pro-Am costs $500 per player and will include a complete VIP package of benefits.

Participation in the Tournament of Champions on February 8th is by invitation only, and will cost $125 per player. Teams of players will be first and second place winners in local charity golf tournaments in the greater Brandon area. Invitations will be sent to these winners and registrations will be on a first come, first served basis.

"The Greater Brandon Community Foundation is thrilled to have secured Beth Bauer as our host celebrity," said Anne Nymark president of the Foundation. "For our first year, we will not be opening this up to spectators, but it is our hope that this event will grow each year and become a major source of funds to support the Foundation's charitable work," she added.

The Greater Brandon Community Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life and shape the future of the Brandon community by creating public awareness, developing resources and supporting initiatives that address these needs.

Player Registration for the Beth Bauer Celebrity Pro-Am can be completed on-line at brandonfoundation.com or interested persons may call the Brandon Community Foundation office at (813) 661-3201.

October 6, 2003