PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- A roster of 180 golfers has been announced for the eighth annual Special Olympics National Invitational Tournament at The PGA Golf Club, Sept. 14-17, 2007. The tournament will feature Special Olympics golfers and, in team play, their non-Special Olympics partners from 26 states competing in one of five levels of competition on the Ryder and Wanamaker Courses.
Special Olympics
Special Olympics golfers, ranging in age from 9 to 81 years old, will travel to Port St. Lucie, Fla., from as far as Spokane, Wash. (Full roster provided below.) Athletes will showcase their abilities in the individual skills competition, team play and individual stroke play events. The national tournament will tee off with a Play Golf America clinic for Special Olympics golfers, their family members, program volunteers and Special Olympics staff at the PGA Learning Center on Friday afternoon, Sept. 14. The clinic will be followed by Olympic-style Opening Ceremonies that evening and with three competitive golf rounds played Saturday, Sept. 15, through Monday, Sept. 17. Medal ceremonies for the golf competition will take place immediately following the final round on Monday, Sept. 17.
Special Olympics golf, part of a worldwide sports program for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, offers five levels of play for athletes with different golf abilities. Level I consists of an individual skills contest where six golf skills are tested. Level II is an alternate shot team play where a Special Olympics athlete is paired with a non-Special Olympics partner of more advanced skill for a 9-hole competition. Level III is Unified SportsÒ team play pairing Special Olympics and Unified partners of similar ability for an 18-hole competition. Levels IV and V are individual stroke play 9-hole and 18-hole competitions, respectively.
The golf industry has joined to support Special Olympics golf with The PGA of America, USGA and PGA TOUR as presenting sponsors, the LPGA and GCSAA as supporting sponsors and The PGA Golf Club as event sponsor. The Special Olympics Global Partners include adidas, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Mattel and Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition to 2.5 million adults and children with intellectual disabilities across 165 countries. The Special Olympics Movement offers one of the world's greatest platforms for acceptance and inclusion for all people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or cultural differences. Find out how you can become involved at www.specialolympics.org.
About The PGA of America
The PGA of America is the world’s largest working sports organization, comprised of 28,000 men and women golf professionals who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf while serving millions of people throughout its 41 PGA Sections nationwide. Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has enhanced its leadership position in a $62 billion-a-year industry by growing the game of golf through its premier spectator events, world-class education and training programs, significant philanthropic outreach initiatives, and award-winning golf promotions. Today’s PGA Golf Professional is the public’s link to the game, serving an essential role in the operation of golf facilities throughout the country.
About The PGA Golf Club
The Ryder, Wanamaker and Dye Courses form a trio of world-class public courses at The PGA Golf Club, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Named by Golf Digest as one of the “75 Best Golf Resorts in North America” for 2007-08, The PGA Golf Club also features the award-winning 35-acre PGA Learning Center golf park and PGA Historical Center. The PGA Golf Club exists to be one of the premier daily fee facilities in America, and to serve as a home club for our 28,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals.
(NIT Roster Follows)
Brian Helton, Alabama - Level 1 Individual Skills
Bryan Allison, Alabama - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Chris Racine, Alabama - Level 1 Individual Skills
Ann Finlen, Alabama - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Brandon Allison, Alabama - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Judy Winslett, Alabama - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Everett Z. Thomas, Arizona - Level 1 Individual Skills
Bryanne Harrison, Arizona - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Ryan Larcey, Arizona - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Kevin Reeves, Arizona - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Mark E. Acre, Arizona - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Robert Chellstorp, Connecticut - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Stephen Jr. Lacava, Connecticut - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Michael Hedrick, Connecticut - Level 5 Stroke Play 18 Hole
Andrew McMillan, Connecticut - Level 1 Individual Skills
Jessica Foberg, Connecticut - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
David Dennin, Connecticut - Level 5 Stroke Play 18 Hole
Scott Fraprie, Connecticut - Level 5 Stroke Play 18 Hole
James Waldron, Connecticut - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Robert Preston Morrison, Connecticut - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Kristopher Harris, Florida - Level 1 Individual Skills
Charlie Gartman, Florida - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Christopher Dragone, Florida - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Jace Z. Feiner, Florida - Level 1 Individual Skills
Rion Coon, Florida - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Brad Davis, Florida - Level 1 Individual Skills
Kevin Kinser, Florida - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Robert Grist, Florida - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Thomas Watkins, Florida - Level 1 Individual Skills
Jamie Choban, Florida - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Chris Pearson, Florida - Level 1 Individual Skills
Donald Singleton, Florida - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Larry Wayne Buckner, Florida - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Jeff Gartman, Florida - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Irvin Kinser, Florida - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Paul Kozora, Illinois - Level 5 Stroke Play 18 Hole
Brian Trickett, Illinois - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Sean Hurley, Illinois - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Charles McDaniels Jr., Illinois - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Mike Myer, Illinois - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Dan Myer, Illinois - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Steven Jr Binggeli, Indiana - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Rebecca Warren, Indiana - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Steve Sr Binggeli, Indiana - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Jack Rensel, Indiana - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Jesse M Pease, Iowa - Level 5 Stroke Play 18 Hole
Carson Murray, Kentucky - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Christopher Richard Karem, Kentucky - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Mack Rill, Maryland - Level 1 Individual Skills
Annie Bassford, Maryland - Level 1 Individual Skills
Brian Weisman, Maryland - Level 1 Individual Skills
Lauren Smith, Maryland - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Adam Szczepaniak III, Maryland - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Nicholas Meade, Maryland - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Brian Shahan, Maryland - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Sean Taneyhill, Maryland - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
John Delay, Maryland - Level 1 Individual Skills
Chuck Smith, Maryland - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Jim Myrick, Maryland - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Adam Szczepaniak Jr., Maryland - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Gregg Meade, Maryland - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Zachary Carl "Zach" Englehart, Massachusetts - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Michael "Mike" Ciociolo, Massachusetts - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Keith Peabody, Massachusetts - Level 5 Stroke Play 18 Hole
Jeffery Jeff Bramley, Massachusetts - Level 3 Unified Team Play
James Jim Ciociolo jr, Massachusetts - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Merrill Englehart, Massachusetts - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
George Kent, Massachusetts - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Daniel Powers, Minnesota - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Zachary Barrett, Minnesota - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Mitchell Hern, Minnesota - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Christopher Blasewitz, Minnesota - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Shawn P. Wheelock, Minnesota - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Dan Powers, Minnesota - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Ron Blasewitz, Minnesota - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Danny Dasis, Mississippi - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Kyle Dutiel, Mississippi - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Andrew Strehlow, Mississippi - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Ian S. Bragg, Missouri - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Chas E. Pfeil, Missouri - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Kenneth Lederich, Missouri - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Jason Wright, Missouri - Level 5 Stroke Play 18 Hole
Brian Williams, Missouri - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Daniel Schieber, Missouri - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Kelly Bragg, Missouri - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Steve Wiederholt, Missouri - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Richard Lederich, Missouri - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Mike Burke, Missouri - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Timothy M. Andrews, Nebraska - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Erin E. Morgan, Nebraska - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Larry Andrews, Nebraska - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Sandra Morgan, Nebraska - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Chris Robinson, North Carolina - Level 1 Individual Skills
Ahmad Rahman, North Carolina - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Alan C. Jenkins, North Carolina - Level 1 Individual Skills
Richard J. III Kreiselman, North Carolina - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Corinthia M. Kyslinger, North Carolina - Level 1 Individual Skills
Kevin Putanko, North Carolina - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Randall Rogers, North Carolina - Level 5 Stroke Play 18 Hole
Jim K. Cowick, North Carolina - Level 1 Individual Skills
Mark Gradeless, North Carolina - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Martin D. Sheets, North Carolina - Level 5 Stroke Play 18 Hole
Mike Owen, North Carolina - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Benjamin Braun, Oregon - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Robert Meyer, Oregon - Level 5 Stroke Play 18 Hole
David Braun, Oregon - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Michael Barton, Pennsylvania - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Chuck Barton, Pennsylvania - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Denise Dutra, Rhode Island - Level 1 Individual Skills
Lisa Marie Dutra, Rhode Island - Level 1 Individual Skills
Paul Turgeon, Rhode Island - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Aime Turgeon, Rhode Island - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Scott Rohrer, South Carolina - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Casey O'Connor, South Carolina - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Robert Calcote, South Carolina - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Moise Pack, South Carolina - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Bradley Raymond, South Carolina - Level 5 Stroke Play 18 Hole
Jeffrey Rohrer, South Carolina - Level 3 Unified Team Play
John Evans, South Carolina - Level 1 Individual Skills
Bob O'Connor, South Carolina - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Clint Blalock, South Carolina - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Paul Casteel, Tennessee - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Joshua Putman, Tennessee - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Ryan Luck, Tennessee - Level 5 Stroke Play 18 Hole
Nathan Cheverton, Tennessee - Level 5 Stroke Play 18 Hole
Becky Deacon, Tennessee - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Eddy Blalock, Tennessee - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Bubba Campbell, Tennessee - Level 3 Unified Team Play
David L. Higgins III, Texas - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Jared Williamson, Texas - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Katherine Richards, Texas - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Chris Gracian, Texas - Level 1 Individual Skills
Adam Young, Texas - Level 1 Individual Skills
Lyndon LaPlante, Texas - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Erik Houser, Texas - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Tim Lucas, Texas - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Buddy Randall, Texas - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Blair Claghorn, Texas - Level 5 Stroke Play 18 Hole
Kevin Harrell, Texas - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Jeff Mohr, Texas - Level 1 Individual Skills
Lee Bell, Texas - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Michael Lyons, Texas - Level 1 Individual Skills
David L. Higgins II, Texas - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Peter Horton, Texas - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Jerry Williamson, Texas - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Don Richards, Texas - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Jim Houser, Texas - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
William (Bill) Pearcy, Texas - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Scott Bonn, Utah - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Shelley Mooney, Utah - Level 1 Individual Skills
Chris Briseno, Utah - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Natalie Linford, Utah - Level 1 Individual Skills
Ryan J. Knight, Utah - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
Brian Larsen, Utah - Level 5 Stroke Play 18 Hole
Heather Dalrymple, Utah - Level 1 Individual Skills
Gary Green, Utah - Level 1 Individual Skills
Bill Leach, Utah - Level 1 Individual Skills
Bryce Arneson, Utah - Level 1 Individual Skills
Bill Bonn, Utah - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Debi Kopecky, Utah - Level 3 Unified Team Play
Kevin Hansen, Vermont - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Martin Beis, Vermont - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Nicholas Williams, Virginia - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Joshua Adkins, Virginia - Level 1 Individual Skills
Kaitlynn Kyler, Virginia - Level 1 Individual Skills
Ryan O'Meara, Virginia - Level 1 Individual Skills
David Curtin, Virginia - Level 5 Stroke Play 18 Hole
Jeff Emery, Virginia - Level 5 Stroke Play 18 Hole
Meghan Garber, Virginia - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Rebecca Mayer, Virginia - Level 1 Individual Skills
Michael Jr. (Mike) Canaday, Virginia - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Amy Mayer, Virginia - Level 1 Individual Skills
Stacey Sweet, Virginia - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Craig Marek, Virginia - Level 3 Unified Team Play
George Sweet, Virginia - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Stacey L. Johnston, Washington- Level 5 Stroke Play 18 Hole
Rebecca(Becca) Stelpflug, Wisconsin - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Andrew Winter, Wisconsin - Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play
Kevin Erickson, Wisconsin - Level 5 Stroke Play 18 Hole
Joseph St. Thomas, Wisconsin - Level 4 Stroke Play 9 Hole
