Skip to content

Nick Taylor Charity Pro-Am raises more than $100,000 for UFV golf team and UFV food bank

Part of the eye-popping fundraising total was a $15,000 bid to play with PGA star Nick Taylor
21980010_web1_taylor
Abbotsford’s Nick Taylor teeing off at last year’s charity pro-am tournament. The PGA star returned this year to help raise money for the UFV golf team and UFV food bank. (Darren McDonald/UFV)

Staged in a unique way under unprecedented circumstances, the Nick Taylor Charity Pro-Am was once again a success both on and off the golf course.

Friday’s tournament, held at Ledgeview Golf Club, marked the fourth annual collaboration between Taylor – the two-time PGA Tour winner from Abbotsford – and the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) golf program, which organized the event with support from presenting sponsor Algra Bros. Developments.

The tourney is usually staged in September, at the conclusion of Taylor’s PGA Tour season. But with the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the PGA season and pushing the schedule into the fall, the decision was made just over a month ago to host the event on June 26, before Taylor departs Abbotsford to rejoin the PGA Tour.

Recreational golf has weathered the pandemic better than most sports, due to its outdoor environs and the ease of maintaining physical distance between competitors. Nevertheless, this year’s Taylor tourney was reconfigured to limit COVID-19 risks – none of the traditional large group gatherings like dinners were held, and golfers arrived at Ledgeview for tee times, rather than the usual shotgun start.

Despite the short notice, the event was, remarkably, once again sold out. And while a final fundraising total has not yet been calculated, Chris Bertram of the Cascades golf program confirmed that the tally will be in excess of $100,000. Those funds will be shared between the Cascades golf program and the UFV Food Bank.

READ MORE: UFV Cascades prepare for Canada West golf debut

READ MORE: University of the Fraser Valley golfers fourth at nationals

Taylor, for his part, was thrilled with the generosity of participants. Notably, the right to play with Taylor for Friday’s round was auctioned off, and the winning bid was $15,000.

“That blew me away,” he said.

“I think it went really well. Of any year, this might be the most important year to host an event because of what’s been going on (with COVID-19). People have been shocked and devastated by this in so many different ways. We want to do anything we can to help out the community, and I know the university is going to match some of the funds raised which is great.”

Taylor had won the tournament three of the previous four years, dating back to when it was known as the UFV Cascades Pro-Am. This year, he settled for third place, with Mission pro Kevin Stinson winning the event for the second time. Stinson, the 2015 champion, carded eight birdies on his way to a six-under 64, edging Jake Scarrow (65) and Taylor (66). UFV golf alumni Brett Stewart and Zach Olson tied for fourth at 67 with Luke Bogdan.

In the team competition, the Valley Waste & Recycling trio of Derek Janzen, Scott Verschuur and Cameron Gemmell emerged victorious. Their score of 20-under par matched that of Canex (Bryan Devisser, Jon Mackie and John Kuipers); Valley Waste won by retrogression.

Bertram marvelled at how quickly the event had come together – the idea to stage it on short notice had been hatched on May 15, as he, Taylor and Algra Bros. partner Phil Algra played a round together at Ledgeview.

“We were at the seventh tee box, and Phil says, ‘I have an idea,” Bertram related with a chuckle.

“Because we weren’t able to have large gatherings before or after the event, it made us rethink how we were going to create an experience within the 18 holes of golf. We got creative, and I think we delivered a really good experience for people. We’ve had lots of laughs on the golf course, good food, good prizes. I think everyone’s walking away happy, and I hope optimistic. Golf is one way we can overcome some of the (COVID-19) stress we’re all experiencing now. I think a lot of people were feeling relief to get out and be a part of something again.

“We’re so grateful to the Fraser Valley community for coming out and supporting the event, and supporting the UFV Food Bank. They’re helping people who are really going through some tough times right now.”


@ProgressSports
eric.welsh@theprogress.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Want to support local journalism during the pandemic? Make a donation here.