UNM PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO BENEFIT FROM GOLF TOURNAMENT

June 10, 2003

UNM PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO BENEFIT FROM GOLF TOURNAMENT

The Presidential Scholarship Program (PSP) at the University of New Mexico will be the beneficiary of the 21st annual Bank of America /Larry Ahrens Golf Tournament, which will be held Friday, June 20. A limited number of individual slots and team openings are still available for the tournament at the Championship Golf Course at the University of New Mexico. The tournament is the oldest such fundraising event at UNM.

“When I came to Albuquerque in 1980, I understood right away that the University of New Mexico was a key part of this community,” said Larry Ahrens, talk show host at KKOB radio. “I realized that I wanted to get involved with the University at some level. I know that my job comes with a special responsibility to give back to the community. There’s only one event a year that I put my name on and it’s this event. I’m so proud of it and I’m proud of the students who have success with the scholarships.”

Presidential Scholarships are offered exclusively to New Mexico’s most outstanding high school graduates, based on their academic merit and leadership skills. The scholarships pay for the cost of tuition, textbooks and other fees. Since its inception in 1976, the PSP has offered tuition-free education to more than 2,250 scholars, made possible by nearly $8 million in gifts from donors.

“There are approximately 450 scholars on campus this year representing a wealth of ethnic backgrounds from all across the state,” said Mary Wolford, UNM Annual Giving development specialist. “This number puts UNM, and New Mexico, among the national leaders in merit scholarships. Three teams fund one Presidential Scholarship and the tournament funds more than 30 scholars every year. The 2002 event netted more than $50,000 in scholarship funds.”

The tournament format will be a 4-person Red-White-Blue scramble limited to one “A” player
(handicap of 9 or less), and a combined handicap of each team of at least 43. Interested participants may form their own team or play as an individual or pair and be assigned to a team. There will be two shotgun starts beginning at 7:30 a.m. and also at 12:45 p.m. A few individual slots still remain for the morning flight, while a number of team openings and individual slots remain for the afternoon flight.

Team prizes will be awarded for first through fifth place teams, a.m. and p.m. flights, and first
through third place prizes for women’s teams. There will also be plenty of skill and random drawing
prizes. The entry fee of $125 per player includes green fees, cart, range balls, drinks, snacks, breakfast, lunch and a post-tournament awards dinner.

For more information call (505) 277-5688 or to register on-line visit http://www.pspgolf.org.

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