FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 16, 2015) – More than 47 local students participated in the Rotary Club of Fort Myers Sunrise’s inaugural Pro-Am Golf Classic Junior Clinic, sponsored by Arika Bjorkedal of VIP Realty, on April 14 at the Forest Country Club in Fort Myers.
Youth from the Boys & Girls Club of Lee County, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. and Sheriff’s Youth Activities League, which includes students from Lehigh High School and James Stephens International Academy, were instructed by Forest Country Club golf professionals Bill Harley, Andrew Plesz and J.J. Scott, and LPGA professionals Martina Gavier and Ginger Howard. The students learned hands-on putting and hitting skills as well as values associated with the game of golf.
“The Junior Clinic sponsorship stuck out to me when deciding which activity I wanted to support for the Rotary’s new event,” said Bjorkedal, Junior Clinic sponsor and sales associate with VIP Realty. “Watching the kids learn something new and really enjoy themselves is truly satisfying, and I’m thrilled to be a part of an event that positively impacts the lives of our community’s youth and students.”
The Pro-Am Golf Classic will take place on Friday, May 22 at the Forest Country Club. Proceeds will fund scholarships, through The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Inc., for local students to continue their education at a technical or trade school, or a college or university.
Three of Lee Memorial Health System’s subsidiaries, Continuum of Care Home Health, The Rehabilitation Hospital and Healthpark Care & Rehabilitation Center, share the title sponsor honors. Other sponsors include Easy Picker Golf Products, Iron Ridge Insurance Services, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Lee Memorial Gardens, Mass Mutual Financial Group, R.L. James General Contractors, Inc., Scanlon Auto Group, Spectrum Sign Works, South Trail Tire & Auto Repair, The Dellutri Law Group, P.A. and TKW Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Sponsorships are still available, start at $100 and include eagle, birdie sponsor and box lunch sponsor, and additional hole sponsorships.
Twenty-five teams of four amateurs and one professional will tee off in a two best ball format. Pros will compete for a $1,000 purse. Entry fees are $125 per player and $50 for professionals. Beverages, hors d’oeuvres and a boxed lunch will be included.
Rotary International is made up of 1.2 million neighbors, friends and community leaders who come together to create positive, lasting change in their communities and around the world. The Rotary Club of Fort Myers Sunrise includes 35 members who attend weekly meetings and raise money for various efforts including the Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation, the Heights Foundation, Blessings in a Backpack, Junior Achievement, hunger organizations and more.
For more information, call 239-218-1997 or email jkimbell46@gmail.com.
Rotary Sunrise President Dave Gallentine & Arika Bjorkedal
Norm Lutz with June & John Kimbell
My’Quan Shackleford, J.J. Scott & Jerry Williams
Mike Rairden & Larry King
John Kimbell, Arika Bjorkedal, Dilman Thomas & Jake Spanberger
Jeramie Rolle, Deputy C. Tyus & Derick Sapp
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida
Dilman Thomas & Deputy Ray VanHouten
Commander Morgan Bowden, Major Kathy Rairden & Lieutenant Tom Schmidt
Christina & Ethan Jordan
Brianna Clark, Ginger Howard & Presley McGirt
Bill Harley, Presley McGirt, Brianna Clark, Evelyn Pintus & Tom Challman
Alexandra Lizano, Martina Gavier & Valentina Lizano
(Back row) Andrew Plesz, A’Lay Checo, Hunter Hamilton & Alex Hussey (Front row) Shelby Powell & Kelsey Rairden
