THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 22, 1996 TAG: 9607220044
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: HERTFORD LENGTH: 61 lines
There were plenty of hooks and slices, but the golf didn't really matter. On Sunday, the stars came out in Perquimans County to help the Elizabeth City State University Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of Elizabeth City raise money.
Celebrities, former pro athletes and local golfers participated in the first Clifton Davis Celebrity Golf Classic at the Sound Golf Links at Albemarle Plantation. Among those participating with Davis, former star on the television show ``Amen'' and the current vice chancellor for development at ECSU, were Eddie Payton, formerly with the Detroit Lions; James Worthy, formerly of the Los Angeles Lakers; recording star Gary ``U.S.'' Bonds; former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Sam Wyche; Anna Marie Horsford, who was a cast member in ``Amen''; and former NFL players Carl Eller (Minnesota Vikings) and Jim Osborne (Chicago Bears).
Some of the golf wasn't the greatest. On the first tee, Osborne, who sliced a ball into the trees, was outshone by his partners, local real estate agency owner Bill Rich, and restaurant owner Clarence Munden.
Davis said the first-time event, which also included entertainment and an auction on Saturday at the Norfolk Marriott, probably didn't make a lot of money, but he hopes it will grow each year. ``This is just the beginning,'' Davis said after receiving a big hug from former co-star Horsford. ``Next year everything will take place in and around Elizabeth City. We want to get all of the businesses involved. It's the kind of thing that takes time to build. I promise you this will make good money next year. We're doing this with Elizabeth City in mind.''
Davis said he was more impressed with the commitment from the community than the monetary gain.
``I'm excited because it is one of the first massive community efforts we've been able to pull together,'' he said. ``We didn't want to set a goal. We just wanted to bring in the community and get the stars out. I'm real proud of the stars that came out. If it wasn't for the Olympics we would have had 50 or more celebrities.''
One of the local sponsors was Mulligan's, an Elizabeth City eatery. Owner Jim Nye donated a barbecue to feed 300.
``We're interested in sponsoring anything that's progressive,'' Nye said. ``We feel good about having our name associated with it.''
``This is a fun way to participate in a fund-raiser,'' Wyche said. ``I play in about seven or eight of these tournaments a year. They're all for good causes. I met Clifton at the Greg Gumbel Tournament in Orlando in February.'' Wyche, who coached the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay, will move to the NBC broadcast booth this fall with veteran announcer Marv Albert.
Horsford, who helped with the auction, said she realizes the importance of celebrity fund raising.
``This is just wonderful,'' she said. ``Sometimes you don't think it's important until you see how many people come out and see you. So many kids are limited by their financial resources. We need to make their expectations higher.'' ILLUSTRATION: GARY C. KNAPP
Shawn Tarrant of Baltimore, a Norfolk State University grad,
inspects an autographed photo of Muhammad Ali that was auctioned
Saturday at the Norfolk Marriott. The auction aided the ECSU
Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of Elizabeth City. by CNB