10th Annual Odle Classic a Huge Success
08.08.2009
The 2009 Odle Classic held Friday at Walnut Creek Golf Course in Upland, Ind., attracted 26 foursomes and over 30 sponsors, with all proceeds benefiting the Taylor University athletic department and its student-athletes.
Making up the 26 teams were groups of alumni, parents, student-athletes, coaches, staff, and other athletic supporters. Over 150 people participated in the largest single fundraiser the athletic department sponsors each year.
Taylor's president, Dr. Eugene Habecker, was captain of his foursome which included Taylor senior and MCC Baseball Player of the Year, Michael Kraynak.
Each head coach from Taylor's 15 sports either played as part of a foursome or served as a greeter on various holes throughout the course.
"I really enjoyed the chance for our coaches to be directly involved with the participants this year," said Dr. Angie Fincannon, Taylor's Athletic Director. "This is one of the few opportunities we have as an athletic department to reach out to people who love Taylor athletics."
Also in attendance was Bonnie Odle, the wife of the late Don Odle, who began sports evangelism trips at Taylor nearly 60 years ago. Continuing the legacy of Coach Odle, 25 percent of the funds raised by the Taylor University Athletic Hall of Fame at the event are used to send Taylor athletic teams on sports mission trips.
The remaining 75 percent of the money brought in from the Odle Classic will go toward scholarships for Taylor's student-athletes.
"As a former coach, I know the great responsibility we have to provide appropriate scholarship opportunities so that we can recruit the best student-athletes for Taylor University," Fincannon said. "The key for us in raising scholarship dollars is to make this a yearly event so that we can create endowed scholarships for our teams."
Taking home the top prize from the Tenth Annual Odle Classic was the foursome of Matthew Coe, Ben Metzger, Jay Hill, and Delwyn Schrock. The group of all Taylor alumni fired a 14-under 58. The Gould family team (58) earned second place, followed by the team from Wal-Mart Distribution Center (59) in third place.
The Taylor University Athletic Department would like to thank all of our sponsors for their partnership and support of Taylor athletics. Please see the link below for the full list of this year's sponsors.