A team from the Southern Michigan Bank and Trust won the inaugural Charger Golf Classic, a new event hosted by the Hillsdale athletics department, Aug. 3.
Located at the Country Club of Jackson, the event brought donors, friends of the college, and alumni back for a four-person scramble, followed by a dinner and a silent auction.
The Classic, presented by TFO Wealth Partners and Vanbridge, an EPIC Company, provided opportunities for donors to meet coaches, alumni, and student-athletes participating and assisting in the event.
“We are hoping to grow it and build it into something bigger each year,” said Luke Kelley, head coach of the men’s golf team. “It’s a great way for those that have been involved with Charger athletics to come back, give back, and enjoy a day of celebrating Charger athletics. That’s what it’s about.”
Members of the Charger golf team volunteered their skills at several of the par-three holes around the course for the teams to take advantage of as they played. The scramble event ended in an initial draw between the teams from TFO and Southern Michigan Bank and Trust, with Southern Michigan winning the tiebreaker.
Haley Ketchum, executive assistant to the athletic director, was primarily in charge of seeking out items for the silent auction.
“Around nine or 10 items that we had were donated from alumni and local community people that support the college,” she said. ”They ranged from Detroit Tigers tickets to a basket of high-end whiskey. We had a signed Jared Goff football and a signed Isaac TeSlaa Hillsdale jersey, which I actually got to take to the Lions’ training camp and get signed for this event, which was really cool. ”
Although various teams at Hillsdale feature their own golf outings, Ketchum said this was the first instance of the college hosting a department-wide fundraiser.
“We had some high expectations, but we weren’t sure how well it would go,” Ketchum said. “I think it exceeded our expectations. I’m a golfer myself, and it’s a very fun social event for people that love Charger athletics and want to give back.”
Both Ketchum and Kelley emphasized how this event was something new and exciting for the department and represents a step toward further growth in Charger Athletics.
The event also supported the Tobin Fund, a general athletic fund that Director of Athletics John Tharp distributes among the different teams.
“We are trying to build our athletic department on the shoulders of the people that came before us,” Tharp said. “We’re on a journey to try to make this the best Division II athletic program in the nation at the best school in the nation. Dr. Arnn always talks about the college being a crown and you want the athletic department to be a gem in that crown. I just ask for people to support and continue to come back and be a part of the journey that our current student athletes are on.”
