New England PGA’s “Birdies 2 Benefit” Raises Over $200K for Local Charities

ANDOVER, Mass. – The inaugural Birdies 2 Benefit fundraiser to benefit PGA REACH New England, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Special Olympics Massachusetts raised over $225,0000 at Andover Country Club Monday August 16. The inaugural event raised $225,734 for the three non-profit organizations.

Seventeen individuals or teams raised the total with per birdie pledges ranging from $5 to $250 in the 72-hole marathon.

Kernwood CC’s Frank Dully led the field with a per birdie donation of $1,680. Dully tallied 24 birdies over 72 holes to raise $40,325.

Team O’Connor, comprised of Joe O’Connor and Jennifer Webster O’Connor of Holly Ridge Golf Club, were close behind with $1,245 pledged per birdie and with 27 birdies the team raised $33,615.

The Worcester Country Club team of Kyle Puzzo and Nick Rossoll led the field with 48 birdies in the two-man scramble format. With $117 pledged per birdie, Puzzo and Rossoll raised over $5,000 in the B2B event.

The New Seabury on Cape Cod team of Jim Clay and Frank Leja sat just behind Worcester with 45 total birdies. The duo reached a pledge per birdie total of $668 to raise $30,100.

Ed Doherty and RJ Austin of Black Rock CC tallied 44 birdies over 72 holes with a per birdie pledge of $726 to raise $29,780 for Birdies 2 Benefit.

Rich Berberian (Vesper CC) led the individuals with 31 birdies and $12,180 raised for Birdies 2 Benefit. Liam Friedman (Nashawtuc CC) recorded 27 birdies to raise $9,160. Mt. Pleasant GC’s Joel Jenkins tallied 21 birdies on his own ball to raise $16,265 for the three charities.

The NEPGA Intern team of Jack Maguire and Tom Manning carded 22 birdies to raise $1,980 in the event.

“I am amazed at the efforts of our NEPGA staff, the team at Andover CC and of course our NEPGA Professionals!,” NEPGA Director Mike Higgins wrote on Facebook.

“Today we raised over $200,000 for Boston Children’s Hospital, Special Olympics Massachusetts and PGA Reach New England. Thank you to all our donors and everyone involved. This was a very special day and I was so fortunate to be a part of it.

“I promise we will impact lives with the money raised today!”