SMRC Golf Classic

Established in 1991, the Pete Donahue Memorial Golf Tournament is meant to be a tribute, through donations to local charities, to our club's deceased members.

The Sunday Morning Rugby Club held its 19th Annual Pete Donahue Memorial Golf Tournament Saturday June 27th, 2009 at Prairies of Cahokia. Over a hundred golfers braved the excessive heat and humidity to make another successful golf tournament.The event, a four-man scramble, with a 1:15 pm shotgun start, is a charity fund-raiser that each year donates its proceeds to a local charity in honor of Pete Donahue, a friend and former teammate.

2009 Golf Classic proceeds went to help purchase much needed medical equipment for Ryan Manso Zajac of Fairmont City, IL. Ryan is 16 years old and suffers from Duchene Muscular Dystrophy and is the nephew of retired Sunday Morning Rugby player Kevin Manso. He has undergone much since being diagnosed at age 7. On June 17 th Ryan underwent a surgery to insert a steel rod in his spine in an attempt to alleviate pressure on his internal organs. Following the surgery Ryan needed a new wheelchair as well as equipment inside of his family’s home to help them get Ryan in and out of bed. These expenses were not covered by insurance. More information about Ryan and his Family here...

The Sunday Morning Rugby Club sponsored the 18th Annual Pete Donahue Memorial Golf Tournament June 21, 2008 with the help of many corporate sponsers,at the Prairies of Cahokia Golf Course were over 140 golfers participated.

The South Side Day Nursery Learning Center, a program of SSDN was chosen as the recipient of the funds raised by the tournament for the past eleven years. Sunday Morning Rugby Club has contributed over $70,000 to the Nursery Learning Center and they have put it to great use, purchasing playground and sporting equipment and creating a scholarship fund that helps all families afford the quality programs offered at SSDN. SSDN's South Side Day Nursery Learning Center provides early childhood education programs for all children including children with special needs.

Since the start of the Tournament Sunday Morning Rugby Club has donated over $100,000 to the local community in the name of the SMRC Ruggers who have passed away, a fitting tribute. As a Club we are especially proud of this achievement.

Please accept our sincerest thanks to the golfers, corporate sponsors, and volunteers for your generous assistance over the years. Without your help, our tournament could not continue to be the sucess it has been for the past sixteen years.

Photo: Old golf program from the 18th annual tournament. Golf Classic

 

 

 

History of the SMRC Golf Classic

Established in 1991, the Pete Donahue Memorial Golf Tournament is meant to be a tribute, through donations to local charities, to our club's deceased members.

Pete Donahue was a player on Sunday Morning Rugby Club who promoted the idea that as a team we should do some type of fund raiser to give back to the community. During this time the SMRC was still a young club and though everyone new it was a good idea nothing was ever started. Pete past away and this motivated the club to want to do something not only in Pete's honor but also to all those that have played for the team but have passed on. This brought about the formation of the Pete Donahue Memorial Golf Classic and through the dedication of the Original organizers of the tournament (many who still donate their time for this event) and the new players and membership this event has become and continues to be a huge success.

Since the start of the Tournament Sunday Morning Rugby Club has donated over $100,000 to the local community in the name of the SMRC Ruggers who have passed away, a fitting tribute. As a Club we are especially proud of this achievement.

Photo: Golf Tournament Champions Award from past years.

 

 

 

Golf Committee

Chairman:

• Dennis Connelly

Committee Members:

• Tim O'Connell
• Kevin Kamper
• George Beckerman
• Joe Kuhlman
• Kelly Duncan
• Leo Donahue
• Sean Bister