Colorado PGA Professionals Raise $126K Through 2023 Play Yellow Birdie Bash

Westminster, CO, The Ranch Country Club – The Colorado PGA, through its charitable arm PGA REACH Colorado Foundation, is excited to announce the inaugural Play Yellow Birdie Bash raised over $126,000 in support of Play Yellow, a program benefiting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN Hospitals). The funds raised specifically benefit CMN Hospitals in Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and the surrounding areas as well as PGA REACH Colorado. 

“The Play Yellow Birdie Bash is all about community,” noted Colorado PGA CEO/Executive Director Steven Bartkowski “The goal of the Play Yellow Birdie Bash is to support our community through the game of golf. We made huge strides this year by uniting 500 individual donors behind our campaign. All of those people believe in the game and believe in our PGA of America Golf Professionals. Our PGA of America Golf Professionals excelled on the golf course to benefit the community; our three hospitals and our PGA REACH Colorado Foundation.”

34 PGA of America Golf Professionals from Colorado gathered to play at The Ranch Country Club to raise money by making as many birdies as possible throughout 72 holes of golf, playing the Doubles Golf format (two-person scramble). Over the past thirty days, players recruited pledges from donors to contribute money for each birdie their team made in the Play Yellow Birdie Bash. Over 500 donors pledged anywhere from $2 to $50 per birdie in the inaugural event.

The Play Yellow Birdie Bash is all about utilizing the game of golf to impact the community. Children’s Hospital Colorado Champion, Porter, kicked off the 2023 event by hitting a ceremonial tee shot to begin play. Porter and his family cheered players on throughout the day while also reading putts on the greens to help teams make birdies and raise more funds. 

2023 Play Yellow Birdie Bash Team Results

64 – Andy Connell (The Ridge at Castle Pines) & Blake Kuzava (Bear Creek Golf Club)

61 – Ben Honaman & Geoff Keffer (Lakewood Country Club) 

61 – Mark Avery (The Ranch Country Club) & Jason Witczak (The Club at Pradera)

58 – Will Veith (The Golf Club at Bear Dance) & Keith Stilwell (Perry Park Country Club)

56 – Visanu Tongwarin (Legacy Ridge Golf Club) & Rob Grall (Colorado National Golf Club)

55 – Chris Hyten & Drew Parr (Castle Pines Golf Club)

53 – Joe Carlton (Legacy Ridge Golf Club) & Brian Carlson (Walnut Creek Golf Preserve)

52 – Zach Peck (TPC Colorado) & Adam Johnson (GOLFTEC - Highlands Ranch) 

50 – Mike Fengler (The Pinery Country Club) & Cary Callihan (Aurora Hills Golf Course)

45 – Brian Gott & Sean Knights (The Club at Rolling Hills)

44 – Jeramy Curry (Pinehurst Country Club) & Ben Tremayne (Willis Case Golf Course)

42 – Samantha Crawford (Colorado PGA) & Blair Sirene Blair (PGA of America)

41 – Justin Limon & Peter Weisel (Colorado PGA)

40 – Ryan Bakken (Thorncreek Golf Course) & Chris Bowry (Ptarmigan Country Club)

33 – Maggie Hartman (Experience Golf) & Ben Pennymon (CommonGround Golf Course)

27 – Jim Miller & Killian Simpson (Sonnenalp Golf Club)

Funds generated from the event will go to support the greatest needs at Children’s Hospital Colorado - by way of the Children’s Miracle Network as well as PGA REACH Colorado programs that support military, youth, and inclusive programming throughout the Colorado Section.

About the Colorado PGA:
The Colorado Section of the PGA promotes the game of golf for the golfers of Colorado, Eastern Wyoming, and a small part of South Dakota. The purpose of the Section is to promote enjoyment and involvement in the game of golf and to contribute to its growth by providing services to golf professionals and the golf industry within the Section.

The Section accomplishes this purpose by enhancing the skills of its professionals and the opportunities for amateurs, employers, manufacturers, employees, and the general public within the Section. The Colorado PGA has more than 850 members and associates.

About PGA REACH Colorado:
The PGA REACH Colorado Foundation works daily to support our over 850 Colorado PGA Professionals to make a difference in our local communities. Programming tries to ensure that regardless of your age or background, cost will never inhibit one’s involvement and enjoyment of the game of golf. The mission of the PGA REACH Colorado Foundation is to positively impact the lives of youth, military, and diverse populations by enabling access to PGA Professionals, PGA Sections, and the game of golf