Mullen Pro-Am shows success in cooperation

In his 30 years in the golf business, Heritage Hills golf professional Lee Maiden has been involved with hundreds of tournaments, ranging from local club functions to national senior events in Arizona and the International PGA competition in Castle Pines, Colo.

But -- through the years -- he regards the John Mullen Pro-Am in McCook as among the best-run tournaments anywhere. "The volunteer help is spectacular. Close to 100 people donate their time -- for everything from youth serving as spotters to seniors acting as marshals. It makes for a great tournament, with the field of pros and amateur teams filling up year after year."

This year is another sellout ... and it came early. "We had a full field of professionals a month in advance, and all the amateur team spots were taken two weeks ahead of time," said Dannette Miller, the administrative assistant for the Community Hospital Health Foundation.

This year's John Mullen Pro-Am will take place Friday through Sunday at the Heritage Hills Golf Course on the western edge of McCook. A total of 160 golfers -- including 32 professionals and 128 amateurs -- will be competing for cash and merchandise prizes. As they do so, the tournament participants will also be raising money for the hospital.

All the net proceeds from this year's tournament will go for the renovation and expansion of rehabilitative services at Community Hospital. The goal is $17,000, and the executive director of the hospital foundation, Terri Shipshock, expects the pro-am to come very close to reaching the goal.

"We have been helped greatly by two exciting new sponsorships. The optometrists at McCook Eye Clinic, Dr. Rob Stamm and Dr. Dirk Gray, have signed on as presenting sponsors," Shipshock said. As the presenting sponsor, McCook Eye Clinic will match the green fees of all participants, providing a healthy financial boost to the foundation.

Also this year, Gary and Barb Wiemers of Garrison's for Men and McCook Lettering have become sponsors for the Friday night "Horse Race," a golf shootout among pros on the back nine at Heritage Hills. "We're proud of the Wiemers for their commitment," the executive director said. "They have solidified the success of a very popular event."

Through the years, the John Mullen Pro-Am has raised $156,319 for the hospital, and that total could climb to above $173,000 this year. It's further proof that a caring community can accomplish outstanding results by working together.