GREENVILLE, S.C. (August 18, 2014) – The 14th annual BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation golf tournament raised $836,883 for Upstate charities, tournament officials announced today. The tournament’s 2014 charity earnings push the total charitable giving since 2001 to more than $10.8 million. These funds are part of the PGA TOUR’s more than $2 billion in all-time charitable contributions.
Officials from South Carolina Charities, Inc.—the non-profit organization that manages the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation—presented checks to charity representatives at the Charity Check Presentation presented by High Cotton, held at the downtown Greenville restaurant.
The 2014 tournament’s charity partners were 100 Black Men of the Upstate, A Child’s Haven, Child Evangelism Fellowship - Greenville, Child Evangelism Fellowship - Spartanburg, The First Tee of Greenville, Furman University - The Riley Institute, Greenville Family Partnership, Greenville Tech Foundation, Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County, Harvest Hope Food Bank, JDRF - Greater Western Carolinas Chapter, Make-A-Wish Foundation of SC, Mobile Meals of Spartanburg, National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), New Foundations Home for Children, Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services (PAALS), Play Safe, Inc., Project HOPE Foundation, The Reserve at Lake Keowee Charitable Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Carolinas, Scottish Rite Foundation, Set Free Alliance, Shriners Hospitals for Children - Greenville, Vested Partners, and The Walker Foundation for the SC School for the Deaf and Blind. The 2015 charity partners will be announced later this year.
“To have a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event right here in the Upstate that also produces real results for local charities is a win-win for our community,” said Bob Nitto, president of South Carolina Charities, Inc. “Reaching $10.8 million for charity in just 14 years is a huge milestone for the tournament that’s gratifying in many ways. I look forward to what 2015 will bring.”
The 2015 tournament will take place May 14-17, and will once again be played at Thornblade Club, The Reserve at Lake Keowee and Green Valley Country Club.
“We are so excited to return to these three wonderful Upstate courses for 2015,” said Darin MacDonald, executive director of South Carolina Charities, Inc. “Each of them offers a unique experience for the Web.com Tour pros and amateur contestants, and the clubs themselves are also great partners.”
Awards were also presented today to the 2014 volunteers of the year and the Web.com Tour’s Volunteer of the Week. Those volunteers are Bobby Taylor (Thornblade Club), Brandon Tatar (Green Valley Country Club), Mike McClure (The Reserve at Lake Keowee), Sally Smith (Transportation Committee) and Jim Helferich (Web.com Tour Volunteer of the Week).
The pro champion of the 2014 tournament was Max Homa who fired a bogey-free, 8-under 63 Sunday to win the tournament and earn his first career title on the Web.com Tour. Homa started the final round at Thornblade Club two shots off the pace but charged into contention with an eagle and two birdies in his first four holes and went on to finish at 20-under 266, one better than Jonathan Randolph (63), who posted his 19-under total and was hoping for a possible playoff.
The win for the 23-year-old native Californian was worth $117,000 and vaulted the 2013 NCAA Individual Champion from No. 64 to No. 9 on the money list.
Since 2001 more than 121 celebrities have participated in the tournament. The 24 celebrities that competed in the 2014 tournament were Steve Azar, Andy Buckley, Lisa Cornwell, Debbe Dunning, Greg Ellis, Bill Engvall, Ty Gretzky, Wayne Gretzky, Dennis Haysbert, Janet Jones-Gretzky, Gregory Itzin, Richard Karn, Danny Masterson, Jordan Masterson, Jim McMahon, Win McMurry, Frankie Muniz, Jeffrey Nordling, John O’Hurley, Michael Pena, Rob Riggle, Richard Schiff, Paula Trickey and Gary Valentine.
Celebrating its 15th year in 2015, the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation is the only tournament on the Web.com Tour where 168 amateurs and celebrities are grouped with 168 Web.com Tour professionals in a four-day better-ball competition over three courses. Amateurs, celebrities and pros rotate between the three courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with celebrities playing once at each course by the end of Saturday’s third round. The 2015 tournament will take place the week of May 11, with tournament rounds Thursday, May 14-Sunday, May 17.
After 54 holes, the 10 lowest scoring pro-am teams, six lowest scoring celebrity pro-am teams and 65 low Web.com Tour pros (and ties) will advance to play Sunday’s final round at Thornblade Club. The professional winner of the overall 72-hole event will take home $121,500 from the total purse of $675,000, an increase from the $117,000 share of the $650,000 purse.
South Carolina Charities, Inc. (SCCI), the non-profit foundation of the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation, was created in order to showcase the beauty of Upstate South Carolina and the hospitality of its citizens to the world; to create an event that brings the Upstate a fun and entertaining week centered around professional athletes and world renowned celebrities; and raise money and awareness for South Carolina charities.
In 2013, Clemson University’s International Institute of Tourism Research and Development conducted a study of the economic impacts of expenditures related to tournament operations and found that the 2013 tournament generated total direct spending of $4.712 million, supported 139 jobs, generated net local government revenues of $541,048 and net state government revenues of $868,479, and yielded $6.744 million in total output/impact.
As the most unique tournament on the Web.com Tour, the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation has many different playing options and sponsorship opportunities to offer. To review these opportunities, visit the Sponsorship and Playing Opportunities page of bmwcharitygolf.com.
