The SCGA Foundation hosted an intimate dinner Wednesday at the Bel-Air CC with special guest Rocco Mediate. The evening began with a chance for the more than 50 guests to spend time with the PGA Champion before a more structured part of the night began.
Bakari Bolden (pictured right with Mediate), a sophomore at Harvard-Westlake and SCGA Foundation junior, spoke of his high school golf team’s success and shared an anecdote about a memorable round he played with a member at Wilshire CC. He thanked the Foundation for their work, and discussed how he has become a role model for younger players through the support of the Foundation. Bakari reflected on his experiences with a quote from Jackie Robinson. “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other’s lives,” Bolden recited, before adding “This quote embodies everything that Mr. Mediate, Kate Kennedy, Kevin Gigax, Jennifer Alban and the entire SCGA staff is about.”
The evening continued with Foundation President Ed Holmes interviewing Mediate, who began by discussing his transition from baseball to golf at age 16. He reminisced about his experiences in college at Florida Southern University, and throughout his amazing and ongoing 26-year career on the PGA Tour. “I never strived to be the best golfer in history,” Rocco said, “No one should. I have always strived to be the best golfer I can be.”
Guests had the opportunity to hear Rocco’s thoughts on the nearly five years of his career lost to back trouble, and onto the infamous playoff between him and Tiger Woods at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines South. His humor erupted laughs all evening. “Most people on the Jay Leno Show won something – I was fortunate enough to enjoy the ride of talk shows and events the week after Torrey Pines that year regardless.”
The SCGA Friends of the Foundation program raised more than $9,000 through the event, which will directly support its junior programs. The Foundation would like to thank Bel-Air CC, Rocco Mediate and all Friends of the Foundation in attendance.
To learn more about Friends of the Foundation CLICK HERE.