BRISTOL, Va.
&mdash Charity was the big winner Monday in the 22nd annual Bristol Morning Rotary golf tournament at The Virginian. The event, which has raised almost $1 million for area youth charities over the years, brought together amateur and professionals golfers for a scramble shootout. Former East Tennessee State standout and current Champions Tour player Mike Hulbert put together this year’s list of pros, headlined by Champions standouts Joey Sindelar, Morris Hatalsky, Donnie Hammond and Mike Smith as well as PGA Tour player and Kingsport resident Cliff Kresge. Also participating were Nationwide Tour players Keith Nolan, also an ETSU alum, and Brennan Webb. “The turnout by the area golfers for this event is great,’’ Hulbert said. “Times are tough, but they along with the pros understand that this event is about giving back to the community. “There are a lot of kids out there that need our help,” he added. “We professionals know that we are blessed to be able to make our living playing golf. To be able to give back in this way is something that is very important to us.’’
Kresge, who is married to the former Judy Gosselin and is a member at Ridgefields Country Club, used the event as an opportunity to announce an upcoming pro-am to benefit autism support in the United States.