Purple Gold Golf Tournament raises $20K for alumni association
The East Carolina University Alumni Association hosted the annual Purple Gold Golf Tournament on Friday, Sept. 7 at the Ironwood Golf and Country Club in Greenville, where 32 teams of golfers played for prizes, pride and tradition. The event raised nearly $20,000 for scholarships, according to the alumni association.
“This is one of our major scholarship fundraisers for the year,” said Heath Bowman, associate vice chancellor for alumni relations. “The timing of it makes it really fun. It’s an exciting game weekend in early fall when alumni return en masse to Greenville. And it’s an event that many people circle on their calendars.”
Golfers hit the links at Ironwood Golf & Country Club Friday, Sep. 7 for the Purple Gold Golf Tournament. (Photo by George Crocker)
Ryan Cole ’12 traveled from Syracuse, New York, to play in the tournament with his father, Randy Cole ’85, who made the trip from Stafford, Virginia. It was their first time participating in the tournament.
“We’ve wanted to do it for years,” Ryan Cole said. “I’ve always heard Ironwood is a beautiful course. I also like doing anything alumni related and spending time with my dad.”
For five-time participants Ryan Castillo, Jason Sagadraca, Andrew Sagadraca and Wayne Conner, the tournament has become a yearly tradition – and a chance to dress up. The team, named the Fore Fathers, arrived in matching American flag shorts, shirts and hats, complete with powdered wigs that would make George Washington proud.
“This is how we stand out. We can’t golf so we have to dress up,” Jason Sagadraca joked.
Proceeds from the Purple Gold Golf Open go directly to the ECU Alumni Scholarship Program.
Since its establishment in 2005, the program has awarded 297 scholarships totaling over $432,000.
Kirsten Powell, a senior public health student and alumni scholarship recipient, was on the course Friday chatting with alumni and overseeing the hole-in-one contest.
“It’s really rewarding to be out here,” she said. “This scholarship not only provides funds but opportunities; it’s awesome.”
Winners
1st place gross: ASAP Photo & Camera
- Carder Frutiger ‘05
- Stephen Pugh
- Tyler Braden
- Eric Miller
1st Place net: Institutional Interiors
- Mike Baskett ‘77
- Tim Hill ‘77
- Roddy Seymour ‘73
- Scott Seymour
For more information about the alumni scholarship program, visit piratealumni.com/scholarships.
-Erin Shaw, University Communications
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