Breaking color barriers is par for the course for African Americans. Lee Elders did exactly that 40 years ago by making history for becoming the first African American to attend the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia in 1975. In a star studded celebration on Sunday July 20, 2015 Mr. Elders was honored at the Original Tee Golf Classic which held its 16th tournament at Wild Turkey Golf Club in Hamburg, N.J. Over 250 VIPs from various industries participated in the all-day event. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Alum and Media Correspondent Tanisha LaVerne Grant was there to cover this amazing occasion.
Attendees included supermodel Beverly Johnson, radio/tv host Roland Martin, Wendell Haskins (founder, Original Tee Golf Classic), Iain Page (FOX29 Philadelphia anchor), Keith Clinkscales (CEO, REVOLT), Len Burnett (Publisher, UPTOWN), Sharon Harris (Microsoft), golf phenoms Amari “Tigress” Avery and Alona Avery, entertainment attorney Matt Middleton, Jeff Sanchez (NBA Senior Manager, Event Activation), designer Tony Shellman, Derrin Woodhouse (Samsung), Michael Davis (Philadelphia Eagles), Shante Bacon (founder, 135th Street Agency), Byron Kirkland (manager of Machine Gun Kelly), Kevin Peck (manager of Dru Hill), Lenny Singletary (BNY Mellon), Kainon Jasper (Bridge Intelligence Group), Latoya Finney (Asst. VP at Barclays Capital), Frank Fraley (Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce), Michael Vann (former owner of The Shark Bar) and Jim Kelly III.
Guests enjoyed on-site haircuts by Denny Moe’s Superstar Barbershop from Harlem; an all-day open bar courtesy of Zacapa Rum and Ciroc; a silent auction of sports memorabilia; and clinics hosted by PGA professionals who introduced 25 novice attendees to the game of golf. Golf coach Buddy Cooper led the Nine-Hole Youth Competition along with several PGA professionals including NFPGA Section Member Anthony G. Stepney (UMES DiversitiTee Golf & ProjectNext Tee), New Jersey Section Members Jim Famula (Raritan Golf Center), Bill Nightingale (Life Member) and Hal Myers (Life Member).
Later that evening at the Awards Dinner hosted by Iain Page, Beverly Johnson – last year’s True Original honoree – presented Elder with this year’s True Original Award. Tournament winners included golfers Henry Lopez and Greg Lewis for the adult competition, and Khalid Page, Diana McCready and Alona Avery forthe youth competition.
Special thanks to our sponsors Chico's, Mercedes-Benz, National Basketball Association (NBA), Zacapa Rum, Delta Airlines, Times Square Communications, Ciroc, Bai Water and GIII by Carl Banks.
For more information on the Original Tee Golf Classic, visit www.originaltee.com.
Photos: Stephen Knight
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Thursday, July 23rd 2015 at 4:58PM
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