Viva Golf Vegas

Thanks To Rick Abrego!

Just want to send out a BIG THANK YOU to those who donated items to make the Viva Golf Vegas raffle a huge success! As of the date of this post, we raised $2,380!!! Thank you to Chris Myrvold from Tualatin Country Club, Jason Bangild of Gearhart Golf Links, Paul Tice of Gearhart by the Sea, Jared Lambert of the Astoria Golf & Country Club, Matt Brown from Highlands Golf Club, Ian Repka from OnCore Golf. Michelle Mattis and John Fournier of Ho**er Creek Companies LLC, Steve Smith from Leupold, and Marquis Walker from Silver Salmon. If I missed anyone my apologies. THANK YOU all again!!

15th year in the book! Thanks to South Shore Country Club (amazing property!), The Revere (stunning views and fun as always), and South Point Hotel/Casino (the best Hotel in Vegas!!!) for hosting us!

The fundraising for PGA Hope could not happen without Coastal Golf Company /Rick Abrego who spearheaded the raffle and nice tee prize (valuable pouch). Casey Dorrell (Hope Ambassador SW Section) provided all the hand made woodwork plaques, t shirts, 2 special made tee markers he surprised us with, and banners galore!!! Jeff Bojanowski (Hope Ambassador PNW Section) does a tremendous job in the section and inspires us all to do more for the program!!! Jeanie Butler (Hope Ambassador Oregon) brings a ton of great energy, and Scott Smalter (Western NY Hope Ambassador) invited his friends to make for a special week.

Local Vegas contacts have been huge in creating a fun atmosphere led by Brandon Temple (Southern Highlands Caddie of the year and Vegas contact). Tim Peterson (Head Pro South Shore CC) was gracious in allowing our group and is very supportive of the cause. Chris Bartholomew (UNLV PGM student) had 3 tours in Iraq and is an incredible person to be around. He was the star of the show this week volunteering his time all 3 days, taking pictures, and showing the love for the vets. Leah Im (UNLV PGM coordinator) was essential in getting the word out to the students who volunteered.

Sponsors for the event helping raise funds are Alex Rothstein (Callaway golf), Brent Rotondo (Titleist), Rob Jackson (Jolly Roger Restaurants), Steve Smith (Leupold and Stevens), Astoria Country Club, Gearhart Golf Club, Highlands GC, and Tualatin Country Club.

OVERALL RESULTS:

Low Gross Overall: John Delong
Low Net Overall (men): Bill Cole
Low Net Overall (women): Karen McClintic
Hope Ambassador: Casey Dorrell

Couples Flighted: Griffiths/Vutrano/Bien-McClintic
Parent Child: Myrvold-Fribbs/Wallingford

Sr Gross
Senior: Chris Myrvold
Super Senior: John DeLong
Masters: Rick Sahli
Legends: Don Kildahl

Men's Flight:
Jerry Jeldness, Bill Cole, Jody Smith, Austin Wallingford

Women's Flight:
Gross: June Vutrano, Judie McCall, Karen McClintic
Net: Wendy Griffiths/Danonne Smith, Debbie Poe, Ingrid Piazza

Day 2 with Mr. 29 Steve Smith. Nw open champ John John Delong, and his old Duck teammate Todd Eschelman. Was fun to watch Todd make lots of putts!!!

Day 1 complete at South Shore Country Club! Thanks to the great staff led by Tim Peterson, Head Pro. Also thanks to UNLV PGM students who volunteered to help. Casey Dorrell brought all his goodies to help the event have a professional feel. Looking forward to tomorrow at the Revere!

Thanks to Rick Abrego and Coastal Golf Company for supplying terrific 1/4 zip Cutter and Buck logoed apparel! You can purchase online using this link: https://coastalgolfcompany.com/shop/ols/products/mens-vegas-gear-2026 Proceeds go to PGA HOPE!

Got my Certification last week and am scheduled to host a class this year. Going through the class is eye opening to say the least. Great experience, learned a lot, and the highlight was hearing the stories of lives being saved. Very emotional!

We have 72 people signed up with a couple of weeks to go, a great number!!! It is with a sad heart that Dan Re*****on, who has never missed on in all 15 years, will be unable to attend this year because of injury. Dan's highlight in the event came in a 3 year stretch where he finished 2nd, 1st, and 2nd in 2017-19 in the overall 3 day total net competition. Dan is a true champion and someone I highly respect and admire. For 16 years I got to be the pro at Rock Creek Country Club and enjoyed getting to know Dan. He was super loyal to the club and played in every men's club event he could get his hand on. In the golf business, sometimes you overlook the people who have been members for a long time, and focus on the new ones. For me it was always about honoring guys like Dan in the same way as newbies. To thank him, I created a season long event called the Rock Creek Cup which didn't cost the club any money, but was something I could do to honor his support. It was a highlight of mine to see him eventually win the Cup, a memory of a lifetime. Its also an honor for me to highlight him here and let everyone know what a true person he is. Dan is the Man!!!

Casey Dorrell , PGA HOPE Ambassador received the Expert Field Medical Badge; Combat Medical Badge: Aircraft Crewman Wings; served six overseas tours; and received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for service with the 4th Squadron/3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment during Operation Desert Storm.

Casey also is skilled as a woodworker hancrafting 2026 trophies for Viva Golf Vegas. Thank you!!!