Washington, DC – On Monday May 16, 2005, 144 golfers gathered at the Mount Vernon Country Club in Alexandria, Virginia to launch the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation’s 2005 national fund raising campaign. This was the tenth annual Marine Toys for Tots Foundation Golf Classic. With donations of over $160,000, this year’s tournament was a resounding success.

Excellent weather conditions (partly cloudy sky, 68 degree temperature, mild wind) and the excellent condition of the golf course made it an ideal day for a golf tournament. Fifty corporations/business groups, from throughout the nation, supported this year’s tournament. Participating golfers represented 36 of these corporations and included corporate executives, Marine Corps officials and an array of Toys for Tots supporters. Participants came from as far away as Des Moines, IA.

The tournament, which began with a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m., was preceded by a continental breakfast and followed by a banquet and awards ceremony. The format was a best ball scramble. Team winners were selected based on either team low gross scores or team low handicap adjusted scores. Team prizes were presented in two categories: The Commandant’s Flight (gross scores) and the President’s Flight (handicap adjusted scores). Prizes were presented to the first through third place teams in the Commandant’s Flight and to the first through tenth place teams in the President’s Flight. A sportsman’s award was presented to the team with the highest gross score. Individual prizes were presented for the longest drive, straightest drive and closest to the pin. Hole-in-one prizes were available on each of the four par 3 holes.

For the first time in the ten year history of the tournament, Mr. Craig R. Bjork, General Manager, Item Processing Group of Communications Data Services, Inc. of Des Moines, IA scored a “Hole-in-one”. Mr. Bjork’s “Hole-in-one” was on the 11th hole – a 184 yard par three hole, which includes a stream located directly in front of the green. Mr. Bjork used a “Nike” golf ball and a number 7 fairway metal wood. The prize – a 2005 Cadillac was provided by Lindsay Cadillac of Alexandria, Virginia.

Each player received a Toys for Tots Tote Bag, donated by International Graphics, a golf shirt, golf cap, golf towel, divot tool and one dozen golf balls. Golf balls were donated by American Express, Bank of America, Bridgestone/Firestone and ExxonMobil. Golf balls donated by Anheuser-Busch were presented as special gifts to participants during tournament activities. Participants had an opportunity to bid on twenty-three silent auction items and to win one of ten raffle prizes. Team photos, by Jill James Associates, were presented to each participant

For further information contact: LtGen Matthew T. Cooper, USMC (Ret) at 703-640-9433