17th Annual Ann Liguori Foundation Charity Golf Classic at Friar's Head was Huge Success

The 17th Annual Ann Liguori Foundation Charity Golf Classic took place on Monday, May 18th at Friar’s Head, a masterpiece designed by the acclaimed architectural team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Friar’s Head is located on the bluffs of Baiting Hollow on the East End, over-looking the Long Island Sound.

The annual outing benefits a number of organizations that work in the field of cancer prevention and research including the American Cancer Society, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, cancer research grants and support for Kids Need More, a camp for children with cancer and their siblings in August on Shelter Island. Representatives from Kids Need More spoke during the evening dinner program.

Liguori, a sports talk show host, author and reporter, who covers Major golf championships for CBS Sports Radio Network and WFAN Radio, has hosted an annual charity golf tournament in The Hamptons for 17 years and established the Ann Liguori Foundation 7 years ago.

The Ann Liguori Foundation also supports a sports media scholarship that is administered by the New York chapter of Women in Communications (WICI). Nicole Gartner, a student at Stony Brook University, is this year’s recipient and volunteered the day of the event.

Each year the Ann Liguori Foundation recognizes a business leader who excels in both the business world and the philanthropic arena and this year’s honoree was Vincent Ponte of Ponte Equities.
Vincent and his wife Bonnie were there as well as several golf foursomes who are members of the Ponte family. Bonnie’s mother Eileen donated ‘Eileen’s Special Cheese Cakes’ to all who attended.

Scott Salmirs of ABM, the 2014 Business Honoree and Jim Halpin of Platinum Maintenance, the 2013 Business Honoree, joined in the festivities.

This year’s sponsors for the Ann Liguori Foundation Charity Golf Classic included ABM, Golf Buddy, Greg Norman Collection/DUNNING GOLF, Maui Jim Sunglasses, OGIO Golf Bags, Platinum Maintenance, RMS Golf Gloves and TaylorMade Adidas.

Donors included Brain Toniq, Bullfrog Water Armour Sport InstaCool SPF 50 spray, Dune Jewelry, Eileen’s “Special” Cheese Cake, Golden Platter Sports, Marchesi Antinori Wine Estates, Marc Joseph footwear, North & West Coast Golf Links, ROLEX, Tour Edge Golf and Worth New York.

Brian Strauss of Ste Michelle Wine Estates did a wine tasting of Villa Antinori Toscana under the tent during the dinner program. Matthew Wiseman of RMS Golf Gloves fit each golfer for a glove that includes a special ball cleaner.

Each golfer received an insulated cooler bag, a bottle of Villa Antinori Toscana, a Club Glove caddy towel, a Dune Jewelry wine stopper, a Friar’s Head monogramed shirt organizer by Club Glove, TaylorMade balls, Brain Toniq, Bullfrog Water Armour Sport InstaCool SPF 50 spray and a golf shirt from the Greg Norman Collection.

Liguori presented awards to Ken Bakst, the owner of Friar’s Head, Anthony Francis, the Dir. of Operations at Friar’s Head and Adam McDaid, the Head Golf Professional at Friar’s Head. John Nitti, former NY Jets/NY Giant, was the auctioneer.

The day included brunch, golf with caddies, cocktails, buffet dinner, entertainment and silent and live auction items. Exciting auction items that were auctioned off that evening featured donations by North & West Coast Links Golf Ireland (a 7-day golf vacation to Ireland for two people with 6 nights of luxurious accommodations and 6 rounds of golf on some of the famous links courses of Ireland); Hampton Hills Golf & Country Club, who donated a mini-golf outing for 16 Golfers plus barbecue lunch; a Masters package; opportunities to play some of the most prestigious golf courses on the East End of Long Island and a Thursday evening table for 8 at Rao’s New York, donated by Bo Dietl of Imus in the Morning, FOX News fame.

The Ann Liguori Foundation Charity Golf Classic has been played in the Hamptons since 1998 on such noted courses on the East End as Westhampton Country Club, Hampton Hills, Olde Vine, Maidstone, Sebonack Golf Club and The Bridge. This is the second year that the tournament will be played on Friar’s Head, a masterpiece designed by the acclaimed architectural team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Since its opening in 2002, Friar’s Head has become one of the most highly sought after courses to play in the world, as evidenced by its World 37th and USA 28th ranking by Golf Digest, World 32nd and USA 20th ranking by Golf Magazine, World 28th and USA 17th ranking by Links Magazine, and 4th Best Course in the USA built since 1960 ranking by Golf Week Magazine. With a routing of holes that seamlessly transition in and out of dramatic sand dunes and wide open fields, the course offers a challenging, unique and scenic lay-out. The views of the Long Island Sound from the majestic clubhouse and guest cottages are beautiful. For more information on Friar’s Head, visit: www.friarshead.com.

Ann Liguori is a nationally-renowned sports radio and television host, reporter, producer, author and the President of Ann Liguori Productions and the Ann Liguori Foundation. Ann covers The Masters, U.S. Open Golf, PGA Championships, U.S. Open Tennis and the Ryder Cup for CBS Sports Radio Network and WFAN Radio, where she hosted a live, call-in, weekly sport’s show for over 20 years. Ann is the author of A Passion for Golf, Celebrity Musings About the Game. Ann’s long-running cable show, ‘Sports Innerview with Ann Liguori’ features interviews with top legends in sports and entertainment and many of these classic interview shows are now streaming on Hulu.com and Amazon.com. The radio version of ‘Sports Innerview with Ann Liguori’ airs Saturday mornings from 9-10 AM on WPPB 88.3 FM on the East End of Long Island and Coastal Connecticut and globally on www.peconicpublicbroadcasting.org.

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For event updates on social media: #ALFcharitygolf2015
For more information on Ann Liguori and the Ann Liguori Foundation, visit: www.annliguori.com.
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Media Contact:
Carole Imperiale, Publicist
908-380-0015
Carole.Imperiale@gmail.com

Photo caption: Ann Liguori, radio & TV personality & host of ‘17th Annual Ann Liguori Foundation Charity Golf Classic’ with Ken Bakst, Friar’s Head owner.

Photo credit: Tom Fitzgerald and Pam Deutchman http://www.society-in-focus.com