Tournament History and Contact Info.

HISTORY of the Play Golf - Fight Cancer

Central Florida Golf Classic

The Play Golf - Fight Cancer tournament supports one of the main objectives of the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute - research.  This research will allow UFPTI to improve the outcomes of all cancer patients and to add more cancers to the treatment list.

2004 was the inaugural year of the Play Golf - Fight Cancer Central Florida Golf Classic to benefit proton therapy and research.  In our short six year history we have raised over $748,000 towards first construction and now research for the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute.  Since 2006 all of our net profits have gone to support the research goals of UFPTI and its Medical Director, Dr. Nancy Mendenhall - research to better utilize and improve proton beam therapy.  In 2009, the Play Golf - Fight Cancer Classic netted over $73,000.  Added to our previous totals this gives Dr. Mendenhall over $384,000 to use towards her research efforts.  Some of our previous research monies have gone to support a recently released study showing that the prostate patients, treated with protons, experience minimal side effects from their treatment of prostate cancer!  In 2009, UFPTI formed a research collaboration with the world's leading pediatric research hospital to provide proton therapy to the hospital's patients.  The first clinical study in the collaboration evaluates the use of proton therapy for rare brain cancers in children younger than 3 years old.  One of the purposes of this clinical study is to decrease treatment-related side effects in these young patients.  In 2010, UFPTI was also chosen by the British National Health Service to treat their cancer patients with protons.

Our tournament takes place each year at the private and challenging Heathrow Country Club, in Orlando, Florida.  The tournament is scheduled this year for Monday, October 11, 2010.  Our hole-in-one prizes include 2 BMW automobiles, a Parker boat, an Orlando Yamaha-Kawasaki motorcycle and sometimes cash!  Our silent and live auctions at our outstanding awards dinner have included some fabulous golf and spa weekends from top tier resorts and hotels all over the United States, as well as some hard to acquire autographed sports memorabilia.  In our short history our celebrity players have included:  Heisman Trophy Winner, Coach and University of Florida Ring of Honor Recipient, Mr. Steve Spurrier; Legendary Coach and TV commentator, Mr. Lou Holtz;  2007 World Golf Hall of Fame member and Champions Tour Player, Mr. Hubert Green;  Gator Great, University of Florida Ring of Honor Recipient, NFL Pro Football Player and Hall of Fame member, Mr. Jack Youngblood; NFL Player and University of Florida Gator Great, Mr. Chris Doering; and Gator Sports Network and ESPN basketball commentator, Mr. Mark Wise.

In 2010 our celebrity players so far include:  Mr. Doug Dickey, a past Gator football player and coach.  Coach Dickey is also a past University of Tennessee football coach, as well as a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame.  Mr. Chris Doering, Gator Great, 10 year NFL player.  Mr. Hubert Green, a Champions Tour player, a member of the Golf Hall of Fame as well as a member of the FSU Hall of Fame is joining us once again.  Mr. John James, a past Gator and 13 year NFL punter as well as a three time Pro Bowl member.  Mr. James is the current and long-time Executive Director of the University of Florida Gator Boosters.  Mr. Jack Youngblood, NFL Hall of Fame member, College Football Hall of Fame, UF Ring of Honor member.

We hope you will join us on October 11, 2010 at Heathrow Country Club, Lake Mary, FL for another great day of golf for a great cause!  For more information on proton therapy please visit www.floridaproton.org.

For further information regarding a sponsorship or playing in this year’s tournament please contact either:

Merry Mac  Watson                                                             Larry Shertz

Fund-raising Coordinator                                                  Tournament Chairman

Play Golf – Fight Cancer                                                     Play Golf – Fight Cancer

FPTI Golf Classic                                                                  FPTI Golf Classic

PO Box 140695                                                                    Email:  lsherz@cfl.rr.com

Gainesville, Florida 32614-0695                                      Phone:  407-804-0507

Email:  watsonmm@ufl.edu                                              Fax:  407-833-8557

Phone:  352-265-0111; ext. 87790

 Checks may be made to and mailed to: