Charity golf tournament supports wounded warriors

  • Published
  • By Joel Langton
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 434th Flying Training Squadron's Red Devil Charity Golf Tournament supporting the Wounded Warrior Project, is slated to begin Nov. 16 at the Leaning Pines golf course here.

Heading the event is the winner of the 2013 PGA Honda Classic, Michael Thompson, who will be competing at the event and offering golfing tips to Team XL.

"Being a part of a military family, it is an honor to give back to the Wounded Warrior Project and to meet the military members from Laughlin," said Thompson. "I can't serve in the military right now, so it's a great way to give back to the military. It means a lot to me and to my brother."

Thompson, who is the brother of Laughlin member and tournament organizer Capt. Zachary Thompson, will host a free golfing clinic for Laughlin members at 8 a.m., the morning of the tournament at the base golf course, and the tournament will follow at 9:30 a.m. That evening, Club XL will host a silent auction for charity, and attendees will have a chance to meet Thompson. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for children and all proceeds will go to The Wounded Warrior Project.

"It's not every day you get tips from a PGA champion," said Lt. Col. Michael Land, 434 FTS commander. "This is a great opportunity to work on your handicap while providing much needed support for our wounded brethren."

Thompson won his first tournament March 3, 2013, during his second full year on the PGA Tour. The victory earned him a position for the second time in the Masters Tournament, the first of which was in 2008 when he competed as one of the top ranked amateurs in the nation.

For all his success on the green, Thompson considers his upcoming trip here in support of the Wounded Warrior Project a special treat.

"My brother and I wanted to do an event like this this for a long time," said Thompson. "My schedule didn't allow for it, but Zach (Capt. Thompson) really took the reins this year and made it happen."

For more information on the event, contact Capt. Thompson by phone at 298-4003 or by email at zachary.thompson.7@us.af.mil.