Harbor Springs, MI - Over the past 21 years PGA professionals from BOYNE Golf have raised more than $550,000 through the annual Harbor Cup golf event, benefiting local charities including Manna Food Project and  First Tee of Northern Michigan. 

The annual fall event was held October 5-6 at The Highlands  on the Donald Ross Memorial and The Heather Courses. PGA professionals from BOYNE Golf’s properties are pitted against PGA professionals from Petoskey area golf courses in a fun 54-hole Ryder Cup style format.

This year, Team BOYNE professionals set a new yearly record, raising $75,000 for the charities. The donations are the result of the year-long fundraising effort leading up to and following the event and supported through a partnership with the Harbor Cup Charitable Fund and 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.

“The long-standing tradition and charitable contributions that we have all built over the last 21 years and the impact we are making on our Northern Michigan community has been incredible and gratifying,” said Bernie Friedrich, Senior Vice President of Boyne Resorts’ golf operations and Team BOYNE’s Harbor Cup Associate Captain. “We are very proud of the yearlong effort that not only all of the players and team participants make, but also from the Country Club of Boyne and Bay Harbor Golf Club members, area businesses and vendors, as well as homeowners. Without their support, and the support of the Harbor Cup Charitable Fund through the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation, this would not be possible.”

The BOYNE Golf Harbor Cup team proudly presented donation checks this week to Manna Food Project ($60,000) and First Tee of Northern Michigan ($15,000). 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 provide more than 240,000 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.

Team BOYNE Harbor Cup included Captain John Myers and Associate Captains Bernie Friedrich, Josh Richter, Steve Niezgoda and Kyle Roman. Players for Team BOYNE included Chaz Babin, Brandon Brown, Scott Pussehl, Corey May, Casey Powers, Dave McWhorter, Paulo Rocha, Jeff Roth, Dave Trudell, Dan Turcott, and Bob Wilson.

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