Family Connections Make Folds of Honor Mean More for Participants
9/1/2023 4:50:00 PM | Men's Golf
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State's men's golf team will open the 2023-24 season at the Folds of Honor Collegiate, an event which the Spartans are helping host in the company of prominent names, but above all else, for a tremendous cause.
From Monday, Sept. 4 to Wednesday, Sept. 6 the tournament will take place at the legendary American Dunes Golf Course in Grand Haven, Mich. Michigan State hosts the second edition of the annual tournament in association with the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), and Folds of Honor.
Proceeds from the three-day event will benefit the Folds of Honor, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit whose mission it is to provide back, through scholarships, to the families of America's fallen or disabled military and first responders. To date, the organization has given out 44,000 scholarships.
"It's a really special unique opportunity to bring the best of America and college golf together," MSU head coach Casey Lubahn said.
The competition also holds particular significance for Spartan senior, Big Ten Player to Watch and two-time consecutive Michigan Amateur Champion, August Meekhof, whose grandfather was a sargent in World War II.
Sargent Maynard Harrema was issued a bronze star from President Franklin D. Roosevelt for putting his safety on the line by driving a hatchback loaded with high explosives which had caught fire from a German shell, away from his squadron of 15 men. He was also awarded the Good Conduct Ribbon and the Purple Heart.
"The Folds of Honor event is so special to me because we are not playing for ourselves, we are playing to honor those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of this great country," said Meekhof. "This event puts life into perspective, it makes all of us so grateful for the freedom we have."
Compiling the competition for the Spartans are 17 other teams from coast-to-coast, including some of the nation's top teams such as Florida State, Arizona and Arkansas as well as the three DI service academies: Air Force, Army West Point, and Navy.
"Man's flight through life is sustained by the power of his knowledge," said Air Force head coach Tyler Goulding. "I can think of no greater cause than educating the legacy of America's warriors. We are proud to participate in the event and will do everything we can to support the Folds of Honor mission."
Also participating are two Historically Black Colleges & Universities, Howard and Florida A&M. They will represent the 41-percent of Fold of Honor recipients are minorities and the GCAA and Black Golf Coaches Association of America partnership to help grow opportunities for HBCU and minority college golf.
"We are excited to be able to participate in the Folds of Honor Tournament," said Howard Director of Golf Sam Puryear. "It is always great when Howard can help play a small part in crafting the narrative of all of the men and women that have served our wonderful country. It truly gives us a sense of pride. We look at this as an opportunity to help grow and diversify the game."
American Dunes Golf Course, a par-72 7,128-yard course known as "the church Jack built" is a living memorial for the sacrifices made by America's service men and women that will see the legendary Jack Nicklaus himself in attendance. Nicklaus and Folds of Honor founder Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, the only ever F-16 pilot and PGA Professional, will feature at the opening ceremony Sunday at 1 p.m..
"They [the team] know that the greatest player to ever play the game over an extended period of time is going to be there to support college golf," Lubahn said. "It's a monster deal for them and something they'll remember the rest of their lives."
The Folds of Honor Collegiate will be broadcast live on Golf Channel from 4-7 p.m. EST on each of the four days.
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