KAILUA-KONA — Three Hawaii Island organizations received donations totaling nearly $70,000 from the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai.
A major slice of the windfall went to The Rotary Club of Kona.
Thursday, tournament officials announced a $59,500 donation to the service group. That donation, presented by tournament manager Kelly Fliear, follows recent contributions to the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation and the Big Island Junior Golf Association, which each received $5,000 from the tournament.
“We greatly appreciate their generous donation,” said R. Hermann Heimgartner, president of the Rotary Club of Kona, who added that the money will go toward supporting scholarships and other efforts undertaken by the club to support the area.
Last year, the Rotary Club of Kona Community Foundation gave $22,000 in scholarships for eight students, said Brian Asbjornson, president of the foundation.
The tournament in an announcement said The Rotary Club of Kona has partnered with the tournament in helping with the recruitment and organization of volunteers since the tournament’s start in 1977.
“As we enter our 22nd consecutive year at Hualalai Golf Course,” said PGA TOUR Champions president Greg McLaughlin, “our goal is not only to bring golf’s greatest legends to Hawaii, but also to leave a charitable footprint in the community.”
Heimgartner too acknowledged the partnership’s significance to the local group.
“It’s an important partnership for us,” he said.
The 2018 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai is scheduled for Jan. 15-20.
