Palm Desert Golf Event Benefits
Memphis-Based Stuttering Foundation

Golfers gathered April 22-24 to play with golf greats Al Geiberger (Mr. 59) and special honoree Ken Venturi, former U.S. Open Champion and CBS commentator for 35 years.

The Mr. 59 Invitational is held each year to commemorate the extremely low score of 59 shot by Al Geiberge "the first 59 shot in an official PGA Tour event" at the 1977 Danny Thomas-Memphis Classic in Memphis.

"If I had to pick a golf course where you could not shoot 59, it's the golf course he shot on," said Venturi, speaking to about 240 people gathered for a banquet and auction that annually raises about $25,000 for charity.

Venturi, who stuttered severely as a youngster, is a past spokesman for The Stuttering Foundation and National Stuttering Awareness Week (May 10-16, 2004).

"It's one of the greatest accomplishments a human being can make to go from barely putting together two words to being a national broadcaster up in the booth," said amateur golfer and financial advisor Gary Shemano in introducing Venturi.

The two-person scramble at the Desert Falls Country Club and two-person best ball at Trilogy Golf Club brought together 130 golfers for two days of play and clinics in what has long been a mecca for golf aficionados.

"We are thrilled to be the recipients of this generous gift to the Foundation," said SFA president Jane Fraser, on hand for the auction and banquet. "On behalf of all those who stutter and their families, I wish to thank Ken Venturi, Al Geiberger and all those associated with the Mr. 59 Invitational who made this possible."

Proceeds from the tournament this year benefited The Stuttering Foundation of America, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, Inc., and the Junior Golf Foundation of the Desert (with the Matthew Geiberger Scholarship Fund).

Photos:

SFA president Jane Fraser, center, with Kathleen and Ken Venturi at the Mr. 59 Invitational gala in Palm Desert, April 23, 2004.