Pros Return To Stonehenge On Labor Day
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
"The Beast" is coming to Stonehenge.
No, a hairy creature or even an amusement park ride won't be at the golf course, but instead Sean "The Beast" Fister will bring his long-hitting golf game to kick off this year's Pro-Am Charity Classic.
Fister is the reigning national long drive champion and will put on an exhibition at 8:30 a.m. Monday. After Fister's exhibition, the golf begins with Stonehenge members playing alongside PGA pros Brian Tennyson, Billy Krazert, Len Mattiace, Dave Rummels, Larry Rinker, Chris Smith and Brian Claar. Also playing will be LPGA member Jackie Gallagher-Smith.
This year, the Pro-Am Classic will benefit the Kosciusko County YMCA and the Kosciusko County Head Start program.
Fister's show could turn out to be the highlight of the day. The former world class pole vaulter at the University of Florida holds the national record in a long drive championship at 362 yards. He also holds 13 long drive titles in nine states, including the Arkansas state record at 384 yards. Among his tricks is being able to hit the ball 342 yards from his knees and 262 yards with a putter.
"He is going to be an exciting little exhibition," Pro-Am director Denny Hepler said. "He will get everybody's attention when he hits the ball."
The charity classic will be at about 9 a.m. with Hall of Fame broadcaster Chris Schenkel returning to the first tee microphone after a one-year absence.
"When I was watching the Olympics this year, I couldn't help but think of Chris Schenkel and how he hosted the games," Hepler said. "He is a legend. He was the Bob Costas of his time. Costas was the man, the anchor, and that is what Chris was - twice."
Schenkel missed last year's classic because of health reasons.
The professional golfers assembled for this year's classic are not have the big marquee names of year's past, but do offer a sneak peak into future PGA stars.
The big name would have been Mark Brooks, who was originally scheduled to appear. But the PGA Championship winner had a conflict in his schedule and will not be at Stonehenge.
"There are three or four guys here this year that will, in a few years, flat make a name for themselves," Hepler said. "Brooks two years ago was just another player. He was a shot back at the British Open two years ago and still came here.
"We had Mark, the leading money winner," he said. "That would have been a real take off. It wouldn't have mattered who else we had coming in. You can't always get those guys, but he did say he would be back."
Brooks highlighted the changing world of the PGA tour by coming out of nowhere to win the PGA Championship title this year. He joined Tom Lehman (British Open) and Steve Jones (U.S. Open) as other unknowns that beat the big boys for a major title.
"It is like everything else, it is everchanging," Hepler said of the PGA tour. "There are guys who have left their mark and been tremendous players through their runs.
"Guys who we think as superstars are the ones who have longevity," he said.
The players do include Claar and Rinker, who share the Stonehenge course record.
"Brian Claar has been here five of the times, and Larry Rinker has been here all seven previous times," Hepler said. "He is the only one back for all eight."
Rinker is an Indiana native along with Brian Tennyson, co-founder of Papa John's Pizza, Billy Krazert, Chris Smith and Gallagher-Smith.
This year's Pro-Am Classic, which was raised over $78,500 for 15 charities during its eight-year run, will also have a new feature this year with a concert the night before (Sunday) featuring the Moptops, a Beatles-like group. [[In-content Ad]]
"The Beast" is coming to Stonehenge.
No, a hairy creature or even an amusement park ride won't be at the golf course, but instead Sean "The Beast" Fister will bring his long-hitting golf game to kick off this year's Pro-Am Charity Classic.
Fister is the reigning national long drive champion and will put on an exhibition at 8:30 a.m. Monday. After Fister's exhibition, the golf begins with Stonehenge members playing alongside PGA pros Brian Tennyson, Billy Krazert, Len Mattiace, Dave Rummels, Larry Rinker, Chris Smith and Brian Claar. Also playing will be LPGA member Jackie Gallagher-Smith.
This year, the Pro-Am Classic will benefit the Kosciusko County YMCA and the Kosciusko County Head Start program.
Fister's show could turn out to be the highlight of the day. The former world class pole vaulter at the University of Florida holds the national record in a long drive championship at 362 yards. He also holds 13 long drive titles in nine states, including the Arkansas state record at 384 yards. Among his tricks is being able to hit the ball 342 yards from his knees and 262 yards with a putter.
"He is going to be an exciting little exhibition," Pro-Am director Denny Hepler said. "He will get everybody's attention when he hits the ball."
The charity classic will be at about 9 a.m. with Hall of Fame broadcaster Chris Schenkel returning to the first tee microphone after a one-year absence.
"When I was watching the Olympics this year, I couldn't help but think of Chris Schenkel and how he hosted the games," Hepler said. "He is a legend. He was the Bob Costas of his time. Costas was the man, the anchor, and that is what Chris was - twice."
Schenkel missed last year's classic because of health reasons.
The professional golfers assembled for this year's classic are not have the big marquee names of year's past, but do offer a sneak peak into future PGA stars.
The big name would have been Mark Brooks, who was originally scheduled to appear. But the PGA Championship winner had a conflict in his schedule and will not be at Stonehenge.
"There are three or four guys here this year that will, in a few years, flat make a name for themselves," Hepler said. "Brooks two years ago was just another player. He was a shot back at the British Open two years ago and still came here.
"We had Mark, the leading money winner," he said. "That would have been a real take off. It wouldn't have mattered who else we had coming in. You can't always get those guys, but he did say he would be back."
Brooks highlighted the changing world of the PGA tour by coming out of nowhere to win the PGA Championship title this year. He joined Tom Lehman (British Open) and Steve Jones (U.S. Open) as other unknowns that beat the big boys for a major title.
"It is like everything else, it is everchanging," Hepler said of the PGA tour. "There are guys who have left their mark and been tremendous players through their runs.
"Guys who we think as superstars are the ones who have longevity," he said.
The players do include Claar and Rinker, who share the Stonehenge course record.
"Brian Claar has been here five of the times, and Larry Rinker has been here all seven previous times," Hepler said. "He is the only one back for all eight."
Rinker is an Indiana native along with Brian Tennyson, co-founder of Papa John's Pizza, Billy Krazert, Chris Smith and Gallagher-Smith.
This year's Pro-Am Classic, which was raised over $78,500 for 15 charities during its eight-year run, will also have a new feature this year with a concert the night before (Sunday) featuring the Moptops, a Beatles-like group. [[In-content Ad]]