Mike Hulbert showed up at last year’s Bristol Morning Rotary Golf Classic with David Love III – one of golf’s premier names – along with Brandt Snedeker and Lucas Glover – two of the PGA Tour’s brightest young stars.
The 2008 edition of the tournament was the rotary’s most successful, both in terms of money raised and attention received.
“We took the event to the next level with Mike Hulbert’s involvement,” Alex Andersen, co-chairman of the event, said.
With the rotary within sight of the $1 million mark in charitable donations raised, nobody is messing with success. On Thursday, the Bristol Morning Rotary released the names of the professional golfers who will be attending this year’s event at the Virginian Golf Club on April 27. Just like last year, Hulbert delivered a heavyweight name surrounded by future stars.
The big fish in this year’s tournament is Joey Sindelar. A life-long friend of Hulbert’s, Sindelar is currently third on the Champions Tour money list and has earned over $12 million in his professional career.
“To be able to get Joey, his record speaks for itself,” Hulbert said in a telephone interview. “We grew up together as little squirts, and it’ll be fun to pick his brain. He’ll have some good answers.”
The rest of the professional field is an assortment of up-and-comers and established stars. Hulbert, however, made sure to include some golfers who are very familiar with the Tri-Cities’ hilly terrain.
Besides Hulbert, who graduated from East Tennessee State in 1980, Keith Nolan and Brennan Webb, both former Buccaneers and current Nationwide Tour members, are slated to attend this year’s tournament.
“The good part was getting young guys who are ex-ETSU alum,” Hulbert said.
The youth movement continues the Bristol Morning Rotary’s long history with professional golf’s hottest young talents. Besides Snedeker and Glover, the event has also featured Lorena Ochoa, currently the world’s top-ranked women’s golfer.
The other players attending the 22nd rendering of the tournament are Cliff Kresge, currently 74th on the PGA Tour money list, and Mike Smith and John Morse of the Champions Tour.
These players have combined for 15 professional wins and more than $21 million in career earnings.
Another former ETSU player, Garrett Willis, along with Donnie Hammond, Russ Cochran, Gary Hallbert and James Mason are all scheduled to attend but have not yet been confirmed.
In 2008, the tournament raised almost $40,000, the single-highest total in the event’s history, despite being interrupted by rain. In 21 years, the event has generated close to $850,000, and Andersen says that the rotary’s main goal is to reach the $1 million milestone by 2010.
“A days worth of golf is generating money for others,” Hulbert said. “That puts a smile on your face.”
scampbell@bristolnews.com|(276) 645-2573
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