In today’s era of college basketball players coming and going through the transfer portal, fundraising matters more than ever, and Fort Lewis College men’s basketball head coach Jordan Mast knows that.
Therefore, it’s no surprise that the Skyhawks men’s hoops program is holding an 18-hole scramble on April 25 at Hillcrest Golf Club to raise money toward scholarships and program enhancements.
Players can sign up for $175, or a foursome can sign up for $600. The festivities will kick off at 9 a.m. with a light breakfast, coffee and some time on the driving range before a putting contest. The 18-hole scramble will have a shotgun start before ending around 3 p.m.
At that time, lunch will be served with raffle prizes. There will be a car available if anyone hits a hole-in-one. If there’s another hole-in-one, the golfer gets free tires from Les Schwab. Four golf bags, train tickets, a whiskey basket and more will be raffled off.
Mast said there is still room for seven teams and hole sponsors.
“Fundraising is crucial for just kind of our sustained success,” Mast said. “It allows us to keep our program as a top program in all of Division II ... That support is not only needed, but just so greatly appreciated. There are the three different kind of fundraisers and ways to get involved with our program.”
The golf scramble is one of the three fundraisers, and Mast sees as a way for supporters of the Skyhawks to get to meet the players and staff and do something fun.
Another fundraiser is the $200 for 200 fundraiser. The goal is to raise $40,000 dollars through 200 donors of $200. Mast recognizes that $200 is a lot of money, but that it’s an affordable option to really make an impact on the program.
The final fundraiser is the Locker Room Club. It’s a $2,500 donation that includes naming rights to a locker, a meeting with the player that locker belongs to, a signed team picture, specialized apparel and team gifts, invites to special team functions and a personal call and team updates from Mast.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
