Shaw Communications, the parent company of Global News, announced Wednesday the field for its second annual Shaw Charity Classic, including golf greats Rocco Mediate and Fred Funk.
It also said it would commit $1.275 million to two organizations named as the tournament’s official charitable partners.
The news kicks off the launch of the second Shaw Charity Classic, a tournament on the Champions Tour that sees many of the game’s greats come to Calgary at the end of August.
Last year’s event, won by Mediate, drew tens of thousands to Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club.
“On behalf of my family and our 14,000 employees across Canada, we are proud to support two fantastic local charities that help educate and support the well-being of our children,” Brad Shaw, CEO, Shaw Communications, said in a statement. Shaw added the tournament has “become a hallmark event on the Calgary summer calendar.”
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The tournament also announced that in addition to Mediate and Funk, David Frost, Kenny Perry, former PGA Championship winner Steve Elkington, Masters winner Bernhard Langer, and British Open winner Mark Calcavecchia will be in the field.
“I am excited to return to Calgary again this summer. It is an amazing city and last year was one of the best events of the year on Tour even though it was a first-year event,” said Funk. “The crowds were huge last year. The golf course was awesome, and we all want to support the tournament’s continued efforts to help out some of the wonderful charities in the region.”
Also expected to participate is Calgary’s Stephen Ames, who recently turned 50 and qualified for the Champions Tour. Ames is a patron and one of the driving forces behind the tournament. Currently he’s splitting his time between the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.
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Ames’ induction into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame will also occur the week of the tournament.
A past winner of the Players Championship, Ames will join the likes of Mike Weir and Moe Norman.
The charities named as beneficiaries of tournament proceeds include YouthLink Calgary, a Calgary Police Foundation funded program that educates youth about crime and its consequences, as well as issues relating to Internet safety and bullying.
Hull Services, which deals with childhood abuse and neglect, is the other named charity. Hull has run programs relating to children’s mental health issues.
Last year’s Shaw Charity Classic made a record-setting charitable donation of $2,276,251 for a Champions Tour event. This year, players will battle for a $2.25-million purse, up $250,000 in 2013.
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One of the straightest drivers of the golf ball in the history of the game, and oldest to win The Players Championship, Funk has matched his eight PGA Tour titles with eight victories on the Champions Tour which includes senior major championship victories.
Adding to the international flavour of the Champions Tour stop in Calgary will be Australia’s Elkington and South Africa’s Frost. Elkington, the colourful 1995 PGA Championship winner, captured 10 PGA Tour titles. Frost, also a 10-time winner on the PGA Tour, won five times on the Champions Tour including one major victory at last year’s Regions Tradition.
Canyon Meadows may be even more spectacular this time around.
Two days following the inaugural Shaw Charity Classic, the course closed the front nine to complete a number of enhancements to improve the playing conditions for its members and the Champions Tour professionals set to visit Calgary, Aug. 27-31, 2014.
Youth-based representatives from each of the newly-named charity partners joined the Tournament and Canyon Meadows staff to hit a ceremonial tee shot off the first tee box to officially reopen the course for play.
The inaugural Shaw Charity Classic was recognized with an Outstanding Achievement Award for a first-year event by the PGA Tour, and a Tourism Calgary White Hat Award for best event/festival/attraction in 2013.
Corporate packages for the Shaw Charity Classic are available online at www.shawcharityclassic.com. Youth 17 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult.
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