PRLog (Press Release) – May 10, 2011 – Haymarket, Virginia -- On her day off, Juli Inkster came to play.  

The World Golf Hall-of-Famer captured the First Annual Azalea Charities LPGA Pro-Am Invitational Tuesday, topping a field of 12 pro golfers who journeyed to Prince William County, Virginia, to support event organizer Azalea Charities.  

Inkster, who also served as the tournament's honorary chairperson, shot a 1-under par 71 during a windy but otherwise picturesque day in at Piedmont Club, edging Stephanie Louden and Pat Hurst by one shot. Paola Moreno finished fourth, two shots back.

The LPGA Pro-Am was the crown jewel of the 12th Annual Azalea Classic, a multi-day charity golf event and the premier annual fundraising effort for Prince William County-based Azalea Charities.  

Tying an LPGA event to the Azalea Classic has been a goal of Azalea Charities for several years. Azalea Charities Chairman Frank Lasch, Sr. and other members of the nonprofit organization's leadership worked closely with LPGA pro and Warrenton, Virginia resident Kris Tschetter to involve LPGA players in this year's event.  

"For three years we've been talking about bringing an LPGA event here," said Lasch. "While we didn't a bring major event here, we did bring a base. We had 12 wonderful ladies and consummate professionals who took time out of their busy schedules to come here and support our tournament and our causes."

Tschetter welcomed the opportunity to support Azalea Charities and participate in an event so close to home.

"To be at home and able to come out and play in a golf tournament like this is definitely fun and a great opportunity to support such a great cause," said Tschetter, who shot a 76 in just her second round of golf at Piedmont. "I definitely haven't played enough here to have any kind of home-course advantage," she joked.

Azalea Charities raises funds for community charities such as Special Olympics as well as Aid for Wounded Warriors. The LPGA pros were eager to give up a few hours of downtime to support such worthy causes.

"Usually, these are days off or travel days for us, but we're honored to be here supporting Azalea Charities," said Inkster, who came to Virginia following a top-20 finish at the Avnet LPGA Classic in Mobile, Alabama over the weekend. "It's a pleasure being here. Just listening to the stories about Wounded Warrior and the Special Olympics is so inspiring."

Inkster’s victory paid $8,000, but she donated half of her winner’s share back to Azalea Charities immediately after the tournament.

The shotgun-start tournament grouped the professionals with local amateurs representing the event's sponsors. Among the notable groupings was one that included Tschetter and nine-year-old Victoria Tip-Aucha, who was sponsored by ManTech International.

Tip-Aucha, a Manassas Park, Virginia resident, is an accomplished youth golf champion with a 19 handicap honed primarily at Piedmont, her home course. She shot a 96, but the real highlight of her day was playing a round with a professional.

"I just watched [Tschetter] and copied a few things," said Tip-Aucha, who added that she wasn't nervous at all. "I felt pretty good."

The day started off with a mini golf clinic. The LPGA pros took questions, offered tips, and gave demonstrations of short-game skills like chipping and putting. Then came the competition.

The Azalea LPGA Pro-Am Invitational wrapped up three days of golf, which included a Special Olympics / Boys & Girls Club Golf Day on Sunday and a Middle Atlantic PGA (MAPGA) Pro-Am Invitational featuring more than two dozen MAGPA pros on Monday.

The Azalea Classic was a fundraising success for Azalea Charities, but Lasch is quick to note that the event's progress can't be measured in dollars alone. "The success that it has become is most-appreciated," he said. "We know that the youth that were here were very impressed. If we can create a memorable experience for the young people, then that's what we want to continue to do.”

Lasch is hopeful that the LPGA portion of the event will continue to grow. "We look forward to an even bigger event next year and eventually a fully sanctioned LPGA event here in Prince William County,” he said. “With the 2011 Azalea Pro-Am and Azalea LPGA setting the base, we look forward to raising significant funds in support of our communities and our Wounded Warriors support.”

"Azalea Charities does a lot of great work in our community," added Prince William County Supervisor John Stirrup (R-Gainesville), who helped kick off Tuesday's tournament and cited several examples of wounded veterans in the community that have been touched by Aid for Wounded Warriors. "It's so encouraging to spend time with men and women in our military. When one of them is wounded or fallen, Aid for Wounded Warriors is right there to support them, and they're doing it right here in Prince William County."

Sponsors for the 2011 Azalea Classic were MTM Builder/Developer, Inc.; Lockton Affinity/NRA Endorsed Insurance; Wegmans; Brookside Communities; OCCAM Solutons; Salient Federal Solutions; ManTech International Corp.; ClubCorp; National Transportation Partners; The Bartee Family Foundation; BB&T; Bonnie and Joe Jefferis; David Sarvadi, Keller & Heckman, LLP; Chenega Federal Systems; Modern Technology Services, Inc.; Old Hickory Golf Club; Insperity; Overlooks Systems Technologies, Inc.; Sheehy Auto Stores; Ford Sheehy Warrenton; Nissan Sheehy Manassas and iDirect Government Technologies.

AZALEA CLASSIC NOTES

Juli Inkster led the pre-tournament clinic and question-and-answer session, taking the opportunity to show her sense of humor. During the chipping demonstration, she encouraged her competitors to take extra precautions to stay on the fairway during the Pro-Am. "You grow very healthy rough here," she told the local crowd with a smile....

Inkster was asked how LPGA pros decide what to wear during tournaments. She explained that big, multi-player sponsors like Nike will "script" outfits for the weekend to ensure none of its players are wearing the same outfit. Inkster said her approach is much simpler. "I just wear whatever's clean," she joked....

Several of the pros offered their top tips on keeping scores low. On the putting green, Paige Mackenzie advised golfers to pick a putting distance they can easily make--8 or 10 inches, say—and picture a point that far in front of the ball. Putt the ball through that point, she said, and rest usually takes care of itself. Mackenzie, who finished ninth at last weekend’s LPGA tour stop in Mobile, shot a 75 in the Azalea Pro-Am....

Piedmont Club drew rave reviews from the pro golfers. "The course is gorgeous and in great shape," said Alison Walshe shortly after shooting a 75. "It was a little windy today, but other than that, it was great. Really pretty." Walshe also praised the hospitality. "Everybody here at Piedmont has been over-the-top nice. I think all of the girls were really glad to be here."...

Kris Tschetter, an LPGA pro since 1988, recently added published author to her long list of accomplishments. She wrote "Mr. Hogan, The Man I Knew," a memoir about her friendship with golf icon Ben Hogan, who took an interest in Tschetter's game during her collegiate golf years when the two were members at Shady Oaks Country Club in Texas. Tschetter said friends encouraged her for years to share her story because so few people got to know the intensely private Hogan the way she did. Tschetter wrote most of the book at home in Warrenton. "It's definitely the hardest thing I've ever done!" she shared. Signed copies of the book are available at www.KrisTschetter.com.
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Azalea Charities is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in Prince William County, Virginia. The organization is staffed entirely by volunteers who donate their time, talent and money. Azalea Charities raises funds for its community charities and Aid for Wounded Warriors through contributions and sponsorship of Team Azalea Charities in the Marine Corps Marathon and the Azalea Classic Pro-Am Invitational Golf Classic, the organization’s keystone event held each May at the Piedmont Club. Beyond minimal expenses, all the funds they raise go to their charitable core causes. Further information is available at www.azaleacharities.org.