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A Life Changing Tournament

Players Come Together to Raise Over $40,000 for Make-A-Wish

Ed Godfrey Plays Giant Killer En Route to Player's Charity Championship Title

Golden Tee tournaments are extraordinary events that revolve around competition and camaraderie. But at the second Player's Charity Championship the tournament structure went well beyond a player's personal enjoyment - it was a weekend that changed people's lives.

(From Left) Side Pocket's Russ Layton, Tournament Director Jeff Harlow, DonorPerfect's J.P. Biedermann, Make-A-Wish fund-raising program coordinator Krista Goszewski and VG4U director Casey Brock pose with the check for Make-A-Wish for $42,383.61.

After a four-year hiatus, the PCC made its return on February 22-24 at Side Pockets in St. Charles, MO near St. Louis. Despite winter storms across the Midwest, 121 players braved the weather to compete for a purse of over $20,000 and help raise money for charity.

Prior to the event, players created personal fund-raising websites where friends, family, co-workers and others could visit to make donations to the Make-A-Wish Foundation - the official charity of Video Golfers for Underdogs (VG4U). Along with the online fund-raising effort, a player auction (Calcutta) and silent auction were held with proceeds going to Make-A-Wish.

With all that in mind, the scene was eerily quite Saturday night as the crowd at Side Pockets awaited the final total. After three months of fund-raising and the original PCC still firmly rooted in their hearts and minds, players hung on to every word of J.P. Biedermann, who's company DonorPerfect provided the website for the donations, as he addressed the room. And in an emotional presentation, Biedermann, tournament director Jeff Harlow and VG4U director Casey Brock presented Make-A-Wish fund-raising program coordinator Krista Goszewski with a check for $42,383.61!

Overwhelmed with emotion from the player's hard work and generosity, Goszewski thanked all who opened their hearts to help such a worthy cause. And when Goszewski announced the money raised would grant eight wishes the eruption of cheers could be heard well beyond the Golden Tee community!

"When Make-A-Wish gets $5,000 we all smile ear-to-ear," commented Goszewski. "So when we receive over $40,000 we can't even put it into words. It just doesn't happen. This really is a unique event that is leaps and bounds beyond many other events out there!"

The Road to Crown A Champion Begins

Trophies (above) weren't the only prizes handed out at the PCC. Florida's Rob Holtrey won a $200 travel voucher from Hobson Travel for being the top qualifier.

With the room buzzing with good will and pride, the players saddled up to the 20 machines for what became one of the largest and most competitive Golden Tee tournaments in history.

It had been years since so many elite players had gathered at one tournament. World champions. Regional champions. National champions. Players of the Year. Team USA members. World Team members. They were all there.

After 54 grueling holes of qualifying the field was chopped nearly in half which left a few notable casualties like Midwest regional champion Matt Estepp from Round Lake, IL and World Team member Adam Williams from Sydney, Australia. Rob Holtrey from Florida was the top qualifier and won a $200 travel voucher from Hobson Travel for his efforts. Along with Holtrey, 63 other men had proved they were worthy to contend for the title - each of them knowing that the road through the double-elimination bracket would test every Golden Tee skill they had.

Throughout Saturday night and Sunday morning, Side Pockets became a graveyard for many elite players and a proving ground for some up-and-comers. Marc "The Mouth" Muklewicz of Naperville, IL suffered a blow when he lost his Round 1 match to Evan Buchanan from Nashville. But the defeat only seemed to light a fire in him as hot as the high fever he had been battling for most of the weekend. Muklewicz rattled off nine straight wins - including victories over PCC defending champion Brian Bernhardt and former Team USA members Will Lee, Steven Tirey and Jimmy Parker - to place third!

The Giant Killer
But from the beginning, the weekend belonged to Ed Godfrey.

Ed Godfrey

The Wheaton, IL native played the role of David all weekend as he slayed Goliath after Goliath. Godfrey started off quietly by beating Anthony Dakis and then pulled his first upset with a win over Team USA member and Frozen Open champion Ryan McCook of Tampa. But when he knocked off current world champion Graig Kinzler of Chicago in sudden death, the whispers really started circulating through Side Pockets. And his upset over Andy Haas of Stowe, OHturned those whispers into full-blown hysteria! Even Godfrey couldn't believe the run he was on.

"This is crazy!" exclaimed an excited Godfrey after his match against Haas. "I just wonder who they're going to throw at me next? Parker? Litzinger?"

Actually, it was both!

Local favorite and Side Pockets regular Jimmy Parker gave Godfrey a tough match but again, Godfrey rose to the challenge! Despite a few mistakes, he took down the former Team USA member and moved himself just two wins away from the title.

Chris Litzinger

But standing in his way was a man who is no stranger to the pressure of a major championship - Chris Litzinger from Cincinnati. A win and Godfrey controlled his own destiny. A loss meant he would have to battle his way through the loser's bracket.

Matching each other shot-for-shot through Eagle Crest, the pair was tied going into Hole 17 when disaster struck! An errant tee shot left Godfrey in the woods and Litzinger licking his chops at taking a one-stroke lead. But in a miraculous effort, Godfrey chipped a 1-iron through the trees and a bunker to land on the green and make birdie. Then on Hole 18, it was Litzinger who faltered - missing the green and his chip to give Godfrey the match.

But Godfrey couldn't relax for long - Litzinger was back!

Having taken down hometown hero and Side Pockets regular Dan Weis in the loser's bracket for another shot at Godfrey, Litzinger was going to have to win two straight matches over Godfrey to win the championship. Again it was a tight match with neither giving an inch. But as on Eagle Crest earlier, it was the last two holes that determined the winner. After both found the water at Hole 17 of Misty Springs, each had a simple putt for bogie. But to everyone's shock, Litzinger missed his putt to drop a stroke! With only a hole to go, Litzinger was in trouble. But with the treacherous 18th hole as their last stop, one stroke was not a big lead.

Quite possibly the hardest hole in Golden Tee 2008, Hole 18 is fraught with peril. One mishap and Godfrey would lose. But when he stuck the green it was Litzinger who needed to go for it. The Cincinnati native gave it a run, but when his chip burned past the cup, Godfrey's improbable run was over! The last Goliath had been slain - Godfrey was the PCC II champion!

"It really does feel good," commented a shocked and emotional Godfrey. "Especially because of all the elite players I had to beat. If I were a betting man and I was asked how I'd fare against all those guys again I would probably answer 3-and-3. There's no way I thought I'd make it through all those amazing players undefeated!"

FINAL BRACKET

Congratulation Ed Godfrey and All the Players
Who Made the PCC II Such a Success!


Side Pockets just outside of St. Louis played host to over 120 Golden Tee players who attended the PCC.	Banners welcoming the Golden Tee players added to the exciting atmosphere.

While the PCC was a Golden Tee tournament, all in attendance knew the real cause of the event was to help raise money for Make-A-Wish.	J.P. Biedermann, who's company DonorPerfect provided the website for the donations, addresses the crowd.
Tournament director Jeff Harlow and J.P. Biedermann present Make-A-Wish fund-raising program coordinator Krista Goszewski with a check for $42,383.61!
	VG4U director Casey Brock expresses his gratitude for all the players who helped the fundraising effort.
	WVGA President Jeff Allums (Center, black shirt) and Skipper Horner (Behind computer) make sure the tournament runs smoothly.
Make-A-Wish fund-raising program coordinator Krista Goszewski puts the donation in perspective and tells the crowd that the donation will grant eight wishes!
With over 120 players, the crowd at Side Pockets was amazing with players from around the world playing alongside each other.
	Players competed for a chance at a purse of over $20,000.