(Kettering, OH) – Sometimes silence is the most powerful thing anyone can hear. When Nick Heinrich got emotional recounting his PGA HOPE experience following the Stars & Stripes Pro Am, the silence spoke volumes about the impact programs like those are having on our nation’s veterans. 

PGA HOPE Ambassadors Nick Heinrich (left) and Kevin Farrell (right) speak with players at NCR Country Club.

“It saves lives,” said Heinrich through tears to the entire group at NCR Country Club. “All we can say is ‘thank you’.”

The 2024 Stars & Stripes Pro Am was a resounding success courtesy of everyone who played and donated. The Southern Ohio PGA has eight PGA HOPE chapters and there’s a significant waitlist of veterans interested in the available programs and sessions. All funds raised by the tournament go directly to those who served.

Southern Ohio PGA HOPE Graduate Nick Heinrich (right) hands out tee gifts to players at NCR Country Club.

“It costs the PGA $331 to send one veteran through the six or eight week program,” said Heinrich to a group of golfers Monday afternoon. “By coming out here, you all are sending groups of veterans through next year.”

That 6-8 week program is a golf-based curriculum of lessons, playing opportunities and general camaraderie through the game. There are just under 20,000 veterans on the national wait list for PGA HOPE programs. By the end of 2024, PGA HOPE will serve around 40,000 of our nation’s heroes across the 550 programs in the United States. 183 graduates completed the basic training program through The Southern Ohio PGA HOPE Chapters.

There was also fantastic golf played at NCR, Monday afternoon. Jeff Grant, PGA, and his team felt right at home at NCR South, shooting -27 in a 5-person shamble. Grant is the General Manager at NCR and his team of Nate Ellerbrock, Steve Stuck, Tyler Payne and Jim Campion won the tournament by four shots. They were an outrageous -11 on the par 3s.

Find final tournament results here.

For more information on the SOPGA’s PGA HOPE Programs here.

For a gallery of photos from the event, click here.

Visit PGAHope.com for all information regarding national programs and initiatives.