WARREN, Vermont — LPGA standout Laura Diaz will join her brother PGA Professional Champion Ron Philo Jr. at Sugarbush for the resort’s “Driving for a Cure” for Parkinson’s Disease event on Friday, September 5th.<\/p>\n
Diaz, a two-time LPGA tour winner and four-time Solheim Cup team member, will conduct a free kids’ clinic at the Sugarbush Golf Club on Friday, Sept 5th at 4:00 p.m. Her brother Ron, who is also Sugarbush’s golf pro, will be on hand as well to offer his expertise. Following the clinic, Diaz will serve as celebrity chef at the “Driving for a Cure” against Parkinson’s Disease fundraising gala at Timbers Restaurant in Sugarbush’s Lincoln Peak Village. The event is being held in cooperation with the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which will receive half of the proceeds from each $150 ticket sold. <\/p>\n
“Sugarbush is proud to be a part of an event like this,” said resort president Win Smith. “Parkinson’s is an insidious disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Both Laura and Ron are stars in the golf world and lending their celebrity to an event like this really helps in not only raising money for the fight (against Parkinson’s), but helps to elevate awareness about the disease.”<\/p>\n
The brother-sister team grew up playing golf in New England. Philo has been a three-time New England PGA Player of the Year, three-time Vermont PGA Champion, and has played in eight major championships including the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship. He won the PGA Professional Championship in 2006 and became Sugarbush’s resident pro in 2007. Diaz attended Wake Forest University where she was the 1995 ACC champion and 1997 Female Athlete of the Year. She has won two LPGA titles, notched 50 top-ten finishes, and earned more than $4 million in her career. <\/p>\n
Friday’s events also serve as the kick-off to Sugarbush’s Castlerock Open. The four-ball stroke play event (better ball of partners) gets underway Friday with practice rounds being played at the Sugarbush Golf Club. Tournament play begins Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. shotgun start. Diaz will offer a golf demonstration at 11:00 a.m.<\/p>\n
For more information on the Castlerock Open and the “Driving for a Cure” fundraising event, visit the Events page at sugarbush.com.<\/p>\n