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Golf Professionals and Celebrities Tee off for Today’s Youth at the GPI Presented by The Cliffs

Charity Tournament Benefits Children’s Health through The Player Foundation and Zest Quest…

From September 28-30, the Gary Player Invitational took place at The Cliffs, one of America’s premier collections of private residential communities.  As the title sponsor of the event, The Cliffs hosted golfers and celebrities from across the country at two of their eight scenic golf courses, Keowee Falls and Keowee Vineyards, located on the shores of South Carolina’s Lake Keowee.

Proceeds from the Gary Player Invitational presented by The Cliffs will benefit The Player Foundation which supports charities focused on the wellbeing of the youngest generation, including Zest Quest, a non-profit organization founded by The Cliffs whose mission is to educate and help children achieve healthier lifestyles through in-school programming and wellness coaching. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, The Player Foundation has raised more than $25 million for underprivileged children’s education.
“What a fantastic start to our first year of staging the GPI in South Carolina. The Cliffs and all our sponsors have been wonderful to work with and we have raised significant awareness and funds in the Upstate to make a difference in the lives of many children. We look forward to growing the event even more next year and thank everyone for attending and their generosity” said Grand Slam golfer Gary Player.

Gary Player and Jim Anthony Lead Hike to Connect Children to the Outdoors…

On Sunday, the Gary Player Invitational kicked off with the Sassafras Mountain Climb, a 2.6-mile trek on South Carolina’s highest peak. Along with Jim Anthony, CEO and founder of The Cliffs, Mr. Player joined hundreds of Boy Scouts, First Tee (a youth development program dedicated to providing young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop, through golf and character education) program participants, and elementary school children involved in the Zest Quest wellness program for the hike. The hike was a reflection of both Mr. Anthony’s and Mr. Player’s deep commitments to involving children with the outdoors and encouraging them to be active.
 
Former star of television’s “Hercules” and Gary Player Invitational celebrity attendee Kevin Sorbo also joined the hike in promotion of children’s wellness. Sorbo is chairman of another charity that also focuses on the well-being of children, A World Fit for Kids, which is a nonprofit teen mentorship organization that works to help young people avoid gangs, illegal drugs and dropping out of school. “I had a wonderful time in a magical part of the world this past week. Not only enjoying The Cliffs and its amazing golf courses surrounded by the Blue Ridge mountains and Lake Keowee, but the time I got to spend with the kids during the hike was truly inspiring. I can’t wait to come back,” said Sorbo.

Team Led by Bruce Fleisher and Karen Palacios-Jansen Make Winning Score…

Tournament play kicked off on Monday with a Black Knight Clinic and Pro-Am at Keowee Falls and then moved to Keowee Vineyards for Tuesday’s events.  TOUR professional and friend of Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, said of the event, “I’m happy to be here for the Gary Player Invitational. I designed the Keowee Falls course, and as you can see with The Cliffs’ projects, Jim Anthony’s done a very nice job with his communities, golf courses and all that goes on here.”
Sixteen teams made up the tournament with each group of amateur participants being teamed up with a TOUR professional as well as a celebrity player. After two days of play, the winning team of TOUR professional Bruce Fleisher, LPGA Teaching Professional Karen Palacios-Jansen, John Buckingham, Greg Fagan, Walt Norley and Bob Hall came out on top to win the tournament.  “We are thrilled to be part of this top-drawer event.  Both the pros and celebrities were great contributors and The Cliffs and The Player Foundation were wonderful,” said Hall of his tournament experience.
 
Celebrities and professionals from the PGA, Champions, Nationwide, and LPGA Tours who participated in the 2008 Gary Player Invitational presented by The Cliffs included:

• Gary Player
• Jack Nicklaus
• Boo Weekley
• Stewart Cink
• Lucas Glover
• Charles Warren
• Johnson Wagner
• Bruce Fleisher
• Matt Bettencourt
• Brent Delahoussaye
• John Ross
• Keith Nolan
• JoAnne Carner
• Charlotte Mayorkas
• Paige MacKenzie
• Vicky Hurst
• Michael Waltrip
• Alan Thicke
• Dan Jansen
• Karen Palacious-Jansen
• Ed “Too Tall” Jones
• B.J. Thomas
• Kevin Sorbo
• John Schneider
• Con Hunley
• Scott Elrod
• Tony Womack
• Matthew Borlenghi
• Ming Tsai
• Sam Wyche
• Victor Green
• Ed Moses
First time Gary Player Invitational participant and former “Dukes of Hazzard” star John Schneider said, “What a beautiful place to play golf! The course, the staff, the food… top notch all the way. I can’t think of a better place to play or visit on this coast.”

Recapping a successful two days, Jim Anthony commented, “The support this event has drawn for the past two days has been humbling. The impact cannot be over estimated from having two of the three Grand Slam champions, as well as other top talent in the golf, sports and entertainment industries join us to raise awareness of children’s health issues. It’s been a great event that will have a positive ripple effect on thousands of children locally here in the Carolina Preserve, through Zest Quest, and globally through The Player Foundation.”

The Gary Player Invitational presented by The Cliffs will air in multiple broadcasts on The Golf Channel in October:

• Monday, October 20th – 9:00 PM and 12:00 AM Eastern
• Wednesday, October 22nd – 1:30 PM and 7:00 PM Eastern
• Tuesday, October 28th – 4:30 AM Eastern