Bruins Hosting 2nd Annual Culturame Classic at The Reserve in Aloha Oct. 14-15

NEWBERG, Ore. – For the second straight year, the George Fox University Bruins will host the Culturame Classic women’s golf tournament this Friday-Saturday, Oct. 14-15, but with a new venue this time around - The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club in the Portland suburb of Aloha, Ore.

“We'd love to have fans come out and watch,” stated George Fox coach MaryJo McCloskey.  “The Reserve is a fun viewing course to watch golf on, as it is links style - so much more open and easier to see the action.  We’ll be playing the South Course, which is the same course that Peter Jacobsen's Fred Meyer Challenge was held on, as well as the Champions tour, ‘Tradition’.  It is a great course and very challenging, with something like 200 bunkers!”

Tee times on both Friday and Saturday are set for 11:00 a.m.  There is no admission charge for the tournament.

In addition to the host Bruins, other teams scheduled to participate include the University of Hawai’i-Hilo Vulcans, the Linfield College Wildcats, the Pacific University Boxers, the Willamette University Bearcats, the Biola University Eagles, and the Northwest Christian University Beacons.  The Lewis & Clark College Pioneers and the Simpson University (Calif.) Red Hawks are also expected to send some players, but not full teams.

Hawai’i-Hilo, the only NCAA Division II team in the field, is the defending tournament champion.  The Vulcans won last year’s event at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course in North Plains, Ore., with a two-day score of 626, followed by George Fox at 655, St. Martin’s University at 664, Northwest Christian at 690, Pacific at 725, Simpson at 772, and Biola at 799.  Medalist Dayna Bersamin of UHH, whose 148 was eight strokes ahead of the next closest player, returns to defend her individual title as well. 

The name of the tournament comes from the Spanish word “Culturame” (pronounced “cool-TOO-rah-may”).   Debra Del Toro-Phillips, a personal friend of Coach McCloskey, gave that name to her nation-wide company which produces bilingual greeting cards for all occasions in Spanish and English to promote and celebrate cross-cultural friendship and diversity.  The company’s web site may be found at www.culturame.com.

“Debra is always looking for ways to get involved in her community, and she offered to sponsor a golf tournament for us last year,” explained McCloskey.  “In addition to bringing together several fine women’s golf programs, it gives her company added exposure by putting the name out in front of the public.”

Results of the Culturame Classic will be posted each evening on the George Fox women’s golf web site at http://athletics.georgefox.edu/sports/wgolf/index.