Harbor Springs, Mich. – For 27 years PGA professionals from BOYNE Golf have raised more than $700,000 through the annual Harbor Cup golf event, benefiting local charities including Manna Food Project and First Tee-Northern Michigan. 

The annual fall event was held October 2-3 at Harbor Point Golf Club in Harbor Springs. PGA professionals from BOYNE Golf’s properties were pitted against PGA professionals from Petoskey area golf courses (Team Harbor) in a fun 54-hole Ryder Cup style format. Team Harbor won this year’s event 13-11.

Team BOYNE professionals raised over $80,000 for the charities this year. The donations are the result of the year-long fundraising effort leading up to and following the event and support the Harbor Cup Charitable Fund, a component fund of the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation.  Many of the donations came from the members of the Country Club of Boyne and Bay Harbor Golf Club, merchandise sales, and pro-am and scramble golf events around the area.

Through the Harbor Cup Charitable Fund, the BOYNE Golf Harbor Cup team proudly presented donation checks this week to Manna Food Project ($70,000.00) and First Tee-Northern Michigan ($10,000). 

Manna Food is a pantry and warehouse that supplies food to more than 35 pantries and agencies in Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet counties. This year’s charitable contribution will help provide more than 70,000 meals to community members. In addition, First Tee is an organization that promotes character development and life-enhancing values to area youth through the game of golf. The donation helps to increase programming opportunities and reach more youth. Other organizations in Northern Michigan will also benefit from the Harbor Cup charitable donations.

“For the past 27 years BOYNE and Petoskey area PGA professionals have come together and created this long-standing tradition of charitable contributions that has had a significant impact in our Northern Michigan community. To be a part of this wonderful event and see the impact it is having has been very gratifying,” said Steve Niezgoda, Bay Harbor Golf Club Head Professional and Team BOYNE’s Harbor Cup Captain. “We also could not do any of this without all the support we receive from the Harbor Cup Charitable Fund, a component fund of the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation, along with the Country Club of Boyne and Bay Harbor Golf Club members, area businesses, vendors, and homeowners.”

The Team BOYNE Harbor Cup included Captain Steve Niezgoda, Assistant Captains Bernie Friedrich and Dave Trudell. Players included Indiana Jones, Avry Freel, Casey Powers, Brian Jakeway, John Myers, Scott Pussehl, Zach Zondlo, Steve Niezgoda, Bob Wilson, Josh Richter, Jeff Roth, and Bob Prange.

For more information on Manna Food Project, visit www.mannafoodproject.org and to learn more about First Tee Northern Michigan, go to www.firstteenorthernmichigan.org.

For more information on BOYNE Golf, visit www.BOYNEgolf.com.