April 30, 2012
PORTSMOUTH, Va. - While the saying goes that death and taxes are the two things in life you can always count on, the year in and year out success of the Old Dominion University women's basketball golf tournament has become another of life's expectations.
As one of the most successful athletic fund raising events at ODU, the 2012 event held on April 25 at Bide-a-Wee Golf Club in Portsmouth, netted approximately $45,000 for Lady Monarch basketball support with the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation.
First year head coach Karen Barefoot was well acquainted with the golf tournament's success as an assistant coach with the Lady Monarchs from 2006-2008.
Coach Barefoot noted that "the golf tournament is a critical component for our program. The money raised from the tournament supports scholarships for Lady Monarch basketball, provides needed annual funds to help our student athletes with computers and other academic essentials and provides the coaching staff with discretionary funds that would otherwise be unavailable. It is wonderful for our players, recruits and fans to see the support we have from the community."
A committee of volunteers works 12 months of year on the annual event, spearheaded by the tireless efforts of Jerry and Judy Bowman. The Bowman's have been Lady Monarch basketball fans for over three decades, and recently made a significant gift to the ODAF for the basketball practice facility. Jerry is the current president of the ODAF Board of Directors, while Judy has served as the unofficial leader of the Lady Monarch booster club for over 25 years.
"With sponsorships raising in excess of $20,000 and fees from more than 150 golfers, the tournament netted between $40,000 and $45,000 for the program," says the always humble Jerry Bowman. "Since its inception, the tournament has raised, after expenses, in excess of $500,000. Thanks to all of our golf committee members, volunteers, golfers and sponsors, especially Farley Peel at Osage of Virginia, Inc., Max Dale at Scott & Stringfellow, Ray Wittersheim at Tecnico Corporation and Hearst Vann at BB&T."
The committee, along with Jerry and Judy, solicit sponsors all year long for the tournament, and were pleased to land Osage of Virginia this spring. No one is safe from their sales pitch, as they sell raffle tickets for two airline tickets and a week in a condo in either Colorado or Florida, constantly seek hole sponsors, auction items and of course, golfers.
The 2012 event was sold out with 34 teams participating and a waiting list. Barefoot mingles with all the participants by putting for teams on the ninth green. Members of the Lady Monarch team assist by helping with registrations and the post-tournament dinner and awards.
Coach Barefoot continued that she was "especially proud of our fans and supporters who had a great day at the golf course. I want to thank everyone who participated to make the tournament a success - the sponsors, golfers, committee members and volunteers. The outpouring of community support means a lot to our players and makes it easier to recruit quality student athletes necessary to propel the Old Dominion University Women's Basketball Program back to its rightful place at the top of women's basketball."