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It takes a big team to raise funds totaling more than 1.2 million dollars, and for 17 years of the Archbold Foundation/Archbold Classic, that team has included sponsors, professional and amateur golfers playing at Glen Arven Country Club. Proceeds from the tournament supported the Archbold Scholarship Program for 16 years and in 2011 supported the North Tower Project at John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital.
The first Archbold Classic in 1995 brought to fruition former Archbold CEO Pat Fenlon’s vision of a golf tournament to raise charitable contributions for Archbold. Tournament co-chairmen Cliff Campbell and Don Demsher and golf pro David Jackson brought together a group of local businessmen who were also golf enthusiasts to form the steering committee.
From the beginning, the factor that has made the Archbold Classic unique among golf tournaments has been the recruitment of professional golfers from the Nationwide Tour (formerly the Nike Tour) to play with each team of amateurs. “Many of the pros who have played in the Archbold Classic have gone on to great PGA careers,” said Don Demsher, tournament director. “These include Bubba Watson, Sonny Skinner, Chris Couch, Joe Durant, Chris DiMarco, Ben Bates and Kenny Knox, to name a few. All of the pros enjoy coming to Thomasville and travel many miles to raise funds for a good cause,” Demsher added.
The first Archbold Classic included 21 pros playing with 84 amateur golfers. The tournament today has grown to a maximum field of 33 pros and 132 amateurs. This year, several of the pros who are future stars on the professional golf circuit include Harris English, Hudson Swafford and Brian Harman, all three former University of Georgia All Americans.
Contributions by businesses and individuals are what drive the fund raising success of the Archbold Classic. Many of the sponsors have contributed to all 17 tournaments. “We cannot thank our sponsors enough for their generous support through the years,” said Frances Parker, president of the Archbold Foundation. “These sponsors believe in supporting quality healthcare in the Archbold system. They know that funds for the Archbold Scholarship Program support students who are pursuing degrees in healthcare and returning to work in the Archbold system. In 2011, sponsorships support the new North Tower Project which will transform patient care for our community and region.”