Golf: Swing for a Cure heads into fifth year

After Sharkey Begovich passed away in August of 2002, friends and family rallied around the cause to find a cure for cancer.

Renea Louie, one of the Sharkey Begovich Swing for a Cure memorial golf tournament's main organizers, set out with the hope that the tournament would be able to raise $125,000 in a 10-year period.

Five years later, the tournament has raised $175,000, and the beneficiary of all the proceeds - the Carson Tahoe Cancer Center - opened last fall.

"That's a huge accomplishment, that the cancer center is already open," Louie said. "It was just a matter of a lot of good people coming together at the right place and time for a good purpose."

The tournament began as a one-flight deal at the Carson Valley Golf Course in the Gardnerville Ranchos.

"We just wanted to see if anyone would come out," Louie said. "The response was tremendous. Sharkey touched a lot of people's hearts. We sold out that first year, and we've sold out every year since."

This year, the tournament moves to the Genoa Lakes resort course in order to accommodate the growing numbers at the tournament.

The tournament format will run two flights in double shotgun format in May 20.

"It's basically two tournaments in one day and we expect both to sell out," Louie said.

Individual registration is $125 and sponsor/four-person play packages are $600.

One of the most distinctive elements of the tournament since its inception has been the wealth of raffle and tournament prizes offered.

This year is no different. Among the donors are the National Football League, western musician Charlie Daniels (Daniels donated a concert-used fiddle out of his personal collection), and businesses from all over the state.

Some of the other highlight prizes are a golf vacation for four, Kawasaki Mule 3010 Diesel 4x4 donated by Michael's Cycle Works valuead at $9,999 and a new golf cart among many others.

For more information on the tournament or the cancer center, call Louie at 790-1544 or Pam Graber of the Carson Tahoe Foundation at 886-7371.

To register, visit www.genoalakes.com or call 790-1544.

-- Joey Crandall can be reached at jcrandall@recordcourier.com or at (775) 782-5121, ext. 212.