Thanks To Faxon & Andrade, CVS Charity Classic Still Going Strong

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Monday, June 20, 2011

Scott Cordischi, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

13 years and still going strong!

The 2011 CVS/Caremark Charity Classic tees off this morning (10:30am) at Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington with some of the world’s greatest golfers on hand to participate.

If you’re from Rhode Island, chances are that you already know what great golfers and what great persons Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade are.

The two have been the tournament co-hosts since this event’s inception back in 1999. And because of their great efforts, this even has donated more than 14 million dollars to local charities in southern New England.

For golf fans, this tournament is about as good as it gets. It is a chance to get up close and personal to some of the game’s greatest stars from the PGA, LPGA and Champions Tour in an intimate setting.

20 golfers split up into 10 twosomes and play two days of best-ball competition.

Unlike the rigors of everyday life on their respective tours where medal play is the norm, the golfers get to enjoy this much more relaxing format.

Because of that, their moods are usually sensational leading to great interaction with each other and the galleries that pace the fairways of RICC.

Over the years this event has attracted some of the sport’s biggest and brightest stars. Players like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Gary Player have all teed it up at the CVS.

Other big names like Greg Norman, Sergio Garcia, John Daly, David Toms and Davis Love III have also played in this event – some of them numerous times.

Young stars like Rickie Fowler, Ricky Barnes and Camilo Villegas have also, and continue to be a part of the field.

And LPGA stars like Juli Inkster, Morgan Pressel, Paula Creamer and Suzann Pettersen have been added to the mix in recent years.

They have joined our local heroes Billy Andrade and Brad Faxon along with the likes of Brett and Dana Quigley for what has been a top-notch and first-class event.

Every year people ask the question, “how much longer will they continue to have this event?” The short answer is, “who knows?”

But if you’re a golf fan, come out and enjoy it while it lasts because we’ll be sorry when it’s gone.

And when you see Billy and Brad strolling the fairways, be sure to thank them for all of their efforts and for being the wonderful people that they are.

The two are Rhode Island treasures and should be treated as such. They deserve it.