The 4th Annual Ben Carson Celebrity Golf Tournament

On Monday, June 13th, 2011, friends of the Carson Scholars Fund met at the famous Robert Trent Jones Golf Course for the Ben Carson Celebrity Golf Tournament. RTJ is tucked away in Gainesville, Virginia, on the shores of Lake Manassas. The club is rated the 6th Best Private Club in America and has been the host of four Presidents’ Cups since it was established in 1991.

Upon entering the gates of RTJ, one couldn’t help but pause to take in the panoramic scene. Impeccably manicured lawns framed by sparkling waters lay out before the majestic Georgian Style Clubhouse. RTJ truly is a golfer’s paradise, and we couldn’t have asked for a better day. It was a perfect 75 degrees, with not a cloud in the sky. (A pleasant surprise following a week of scorching humidity, the worst heat wave the area had seen since 1874.)

Golf aficionados, celebrities, and donors met on the front porch of the clubhouse for the 1:00 pm shotgun start, where they were greeted by Dr. Ben Carson. Each team included a celebrity – another treat for the golfers. After a run-down of the rules, the teams headed out with their caddies, anxious to tackle the challenging course.

Following a day on the course, everyone returned to the clubhouse terrace for cocktails, mingling, and a silent auction. Guests were greeted by Carson Scholar Samuel Davies, and the sounds of Carson Scholar Alumnus Andrew Greene playing piano drifted through the summer breeze.

During dinner, the winners of the golf tournament were announced by emcee and celebrity guest Sam Donaldson. Attendees also heard from Carson Scholar Marybeth Arcodia, who just finished her first year of college at Georgetown University. Marybeth spoke about how being a Carson Scholar has shaped her into the person she is today. Celebrity guest Johnny Holiday, “The Voice” of the Maryland Terrapins, introduced keynote speaker, Dr. Ben Carson. Johnny thanked Dr. Carson for saving his grandson’s life, and beamed when he announced that as much as his grandson wanted to be there to thank Dr. Carson in person, he was now healthy enough to be playing in his championship baseball game!

Dr. Ben and Mrs. Candy Carson thanked all of the guests and celebrities for supporting the Carson Scholars Fund and joining in the mission to discover promise and reward excellence in United States’ students. The Golf Tournament raised more than $200,000.

The celebrities included:

• Dara Brown - Anchor and senior producer for MSNBC.com’s original programming.
• Clifton Davis – Actor, songwriter, Baptist minister. He has appeared on television shows such as A World Apart, That’s My Mama and Amen. Davis also wrote several hits for The Jackson 5, including “Never Can Say Goodbye” and “Lookin’ Through the Windows”.
• Sam Donaldson - ABC News correspondent and news anchor for forty years. Sam Donaldson has covered every presidential campaign since 1964.
• Johnny Holiday – “The Voice” of the University of Maryland Terrapins football and basketball teams since 1979. He has previously worked as a radio disc jockey in Cleveland, New York, and San Francisco. He was the announcer on ABC’s This Week with David Brinkley, Sam Donaldson, and Cokie Roberts, and has starred in more than thirty stage performances.
• Eric King - Currently a free agent, Eric was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wake Forest and has also played for the Tennessee Titans, the Cleveland Browns, and the Detroit Lions.
• Gordon Lane – Former professional hockey player for the Daytona Gems, Washington Capitals, and New York Islanders.
• Tippy Martinez - A former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who spent most of his major league career with the Baltimore Orioles.
• Michael McCrary - Former Baltimore Ravens Defensive End and Super Bowl XXXV Champion.
• Jayne Miller – Investigative reporter for Baltimore’s WBAL-TV.
• Gary Rissling – Former professional hockey player for the Washington Capitals, Hershey Bears, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Baltimore Skipjacks. Since retiring from hockey, Gary has become a successful entrepreneur of the Silver Spring Mining Company restaurants in the Baltimore area.
• Myron Rolle – Safety for the Tennessee Titans and a Rhodes Scholar who was recently named the second smartest professional athlete by Sporting News.
• Cary Sciorra – PGA head professional at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.
• Dave Thomas – Author, historian, and longest-standing trustee of Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.
• Josh Wilson - Cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens.
• Michael D. Young - Former major league outfielder and designated hitter for the Baltimore Orioles.