Diamond Resorts International welcomes more
than 40 professional athletes and celebrities to Mystic Dunes
Resort & Golf Club and hosts its second annual charity golf
tournament on its renowned golf course
With the support of more than 40 professional athletes and
celebrities and DIAMOND RESORTS INTERNATIONAL® (NYSE:DRII), a
global leader in the hospitality and vacation ownership industries,
$805,000 in net proceeds were successfully raised to benefit the
Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children (FHFC) at the
second annual Brian Gay Invitational at Mystic Dunes Resort &
Golf Club in Celebration, Florida on December 12-14, 2014.
With more than 400 attendees, golfers and celebrities
participating in the event, the weekend included a
celebrity/amateur golf tournament on Saturday, December 13 in which
foursomes were paired with a celebrity athlete. The 2014 celebrity
field included hall of fame athletes Reggie Jackson, Gaylord Perry,
Marcus Allen, Eric Dickerson, and Richard Dent and other
accomplished stars from the world of both sports and popular
music.
During the Friday night welcome reception, and with the first
pick in the celebrity draft, the foursome from Dick’s Sporting
Goods selected Ryan Longwell, a retired placekicker, 15-year NFL
veteran and the all-time leading scorer in Green Bay Packers
history. His golfing abilities paid off as their group came away
with the first place trophy in the celebrity-amateur event.
The culmination of the weekend’s events was the Diamond Resorts
Celebrity Invitational, a celebrity-only golf tournament on Sunday,
December 14. The winner of the PGA Tour Division with a 9-under 63
was JB Holmes, the winner of the 2014 Wells Fargo Championship. The
Celebrity Division featured an entertaining playoff between Atlanta
Braves President of Baseball Operations John Hart and John Smoltz,
a Cy Young winner and longtime star for the Braves. Smoltz, making
his debut on the ballot to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of
Fame this year, defeated Hart on the first playoff hole.
The world-class event began on Thursday, December 11 at
Isleworth Country Club, where after a day of golf, guests were
entertained by Country Music’s Colt Ford. In the 1990s, Colt played
on the PGA’s Nationwide Tour with the tournament host, Brian Gay.
Saturday evening’s gala dinner was prepared by celebrity chef and
humanitarian Art Smith, followed by an awards ceremony and live
auction. Participants were then treated to an exclusive concert on
the Mystic Dunes driving range by one of Country Music’s hottest
performers, Chris Young.
“This was an incredible opportunity to give back and get
involved in the great work that Diamond Resorts is doing for the
community. Not only was every detail executed seamlessly, but the
Mystic Dunes Golf Course was impeccable and the competition was
keen. Diamond Resorts delivered a world-class weekend and I am
honored to have been a part of it,” said JB Holmes, PGA Tour Player
and winner of the Diamond Resorts Celebrity Invitational.
“I can’t think of a better way to spend my weekend than by
contributing to a worthy cause while enjoying a beautiful day out
on the golf course with some great competition,” said John Smoltz,
retired Major League Baseball player and sportscaster for MLB
Network and TBS.
According to Michael Flaskey, Executive Vice President, Chief
Sales and Marketing Officer, Diamond Resorts International®, “At
Diamond Resorts, social responsibility is a pillar of our company’s
core beliefs and it is our privilege to be able to give back to the
local communities in which we work and live. The Brian Gay
Invitational gives us an amazing opportunity to engage in our
charitable efforts while also doing what we do best: helping our
guests Stay Vacationed™ while creating lifelong memories. We
appreciate everyone who took time out of their busy holiday season
to be a part of this event. With the tremendous generosity of our
celebrities, golfers and sponsors we were able to not only achieve
our goal, but go well beyond our expectations.”
The following celebrities participated in this year’s event:
Marcus Allen NFL Hall of Fame Inductee Jose
Alvarez Retired MLB Player Tommy Armour III PGA Tour Player Roger
Clemens Retired MLB Player John Cook PGA Tour Player Johnny Damon
Retired MLB Player Robert Damron
PGA Tour Player / Sportscaster
Richard Dent NFL Hall of Fame Inductee Eric Dickerson NFL Hall of
Fame Inductee Mike Eruzione U.S. Olympic Hockey Legend Brian Gay
PGA Tour Player George Gervin NBA Hall of Fame Inductee Troy Glaus
Retired MLB Player John Hart MLB Executive Grant Hill Retired NBA
Player JB Holmes PGA Tour Player Reggie Jackson MLB Hall of Fame
Inductee Davey Johnson Retired MLB Player and Manager Ray Lankford
Retired MLB Player Ryan Longwell Retired NFL Player Joe Magrane
Retired MLB Player / Sportscaster Kevin Millar
Retired MLB Player / Sportscaster
Phil Nevin Retired MLB Player Bud Norris MLB Player
Nick O’Hern
PGA Tour Player Bo Outlaw Retired NBA Player Carl Paulson Retired
PGA Tour Player / Sportscaster Dennis Paulson Retired PGA Tour
Player / Sportscaster Gaylord Perry MLB Hall of Fame Inductee Chad
Pfeifer U.S. Military Veteran and Wounded Warrior Scott Phillips
Musician / Songwriter AJ Pierzynski MLB Player Dan Plesac Retired
MLB Player / Sportscaster D.A. Points PGA Tour Player Kenny Rogers
Retired MLB Player Mark Rypien Retired NFL Player Art Smith
Celebrity Chef and Humanitarian John Smoltz
Retired MLB Player / Sportscaster
Michael Stewart Retired NBA Player Mark Tremonti Musician /
Songwriter Frank Viola Retired MLB Player Tim Wakefield Retired MLB
Player
For additional information about the Brian Gay Invitational and
the Diamond Resorts Celebrity Invitational, visit
www.briangayinvitational.org or
http://briangayinvitational.tumblr.com/.
About Diamond Resorts International®
Diamond Resorts International®, with its network of more than
300 vacation destinations located in 33 countries throughout the
continental United States, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean,
South America, Central America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa,
provides guests with choices and flexibility as they design their
dream vacation, whether they’re traveling an hour away or around
the world. Our relaxing vacations have the power to give guests an
increased sense of happiness and satisfaction in their lives, with
truly memorable and meaningful experiences that let them Stay
Vacationed.™
Diamond Resorts International® manages vacation ownership
resorts and sells vacation ownership points that provide members
and owners with Vacations for Life® through 93 managed resorts, 210
affiliated properties and cruise itineraries. To learn more, visit
www.diamondresorts.com.
Hillman CommunicationsLiz Feldman,
732-387-0515lfeldman@hillmanpr.com
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