The Weyburn and District Hospital Foundation announced on Monday that Weyburn-born PGA Tour golfer, Graham DeLaet, has agreed to return to participate in a second charity golf tournament on July 10.
The Weyburn and District Hospital Foundation announced on Monday that Weyburn-born PGA Tour golfer, Graham DeLaet, has agreed to return to participate in a second charity golf tournament on July 10.
All proceeds from the tournament will go to the building fund towards the future construction of a new hospital to serve the needs of Weyburn and surrounding area.
"I am very excited to return to Weyburn for the second charity golf tournament," said DeLaet. "I am also looking forward to building on the success of last year's tournament which raised $320,000 for the Weyburn and District Hospital Foundation."
"This really is an exciting opportunity for me to give back to the community that gave me so much and has supported me over the years as I worked my way onto the PGA Tour," added DeLaet. "My hope is that the community embraces this event and that together we are able to raise significant dollars for this very worthy foundation."
The events of the day will include a junior golf clinic to be put on by Graham in conjunction with Weyburn Golf Club professional Brett Berkner; the golf tournament at which Graham will be hitting a tee shot on the long par-five 10th hole for each team; and a supper followed by both a silent and live auction.
Locally-owned and operated Panther Drilling has agreed to be a sponsor for the event, and will be sponsoring the junior golf clinic that Graham will be conducting. More sponsors are being sought by the foundation.
The Weyburn and District Hospital Foundation was formed as the fundraising arm for the Weyburn hospital. Their focus is on raising awareness of the need for a new hospital, and raising funds to cover 20 per cent of the cost of a new hospital. At this time, it is estimated that the foundation's fundraising goal is around $20 million.
Through fundraising and commitments from local governments, they currently have in excess of $3.8 million towards their goal.
Recently in the Professional Golf Association, DeLaet had his best finish to date, by tying for ninth at the Puerto Rico Open, and earning $94,500 at the tournament.
This was DeLaet's first top-10 finish since his rookie year in the PGA in 2010. His best PGA Tour career finish was tying for third at the Shell Houston Open in 2010, a tournament that he is preparing to return to this year.
DeLaet started on the front nine for the first round, and shot an eagle one hole two. He bogeyed on hole five, birdied on hole 10 and bogeyed on hole 17. He finished at 69, three-under-par for the round. DeLaet was tied second for the tournament for his eagle count, at one.
Golfing in the back nine of the second round, DeLaet had back-to-back birdies on holes 13 and 14, but then shot a double bogey on hole 17. He added another bogey and three birdies in the back nine to finish at 70, two-under-par for the round.
With a total score of five-under-par, DeLaet easily made the cut after two rounds.
His strongest round was the third one, where he shot five birdies and only one bogey to finish at 68, four-under-par.
He started round four with back-to-back birdies on holes one and two, then was mostly on par for the rest of the round with a bogey on hole 15. DeLaet finished round four at 71, one-under-par. His total score for the tournament was 10-under-par.
"Tough to swallow a rough back nine, but played pretty solid all week," DeLaet tweeted after his final round. "Game feels like it is coming together. Excited for Tampa this week."
One statistic of note from this tournament was his driving distance, which DeLaet was seventh in the tournament. His average driving distance for round one was 293 yards, for round two was 290, for round three was 289 and for round four was 302.5, for a total of 293.6.
According to the PGA website, DeLaet is in 18th place overall for driving distance in the tour, with an average of 299.4.
DeLaet will golf next in the Transitions Championship in Tampa, Florida from Mar. 15 to 18. He will take a week off, before returning for the Shell Houston Open in Texas from Mar. 29 to Apr. 1.
