Regions much more than a classic

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, May 13, 2008

The Regions Charity Classic will tee off this weekend for the 17th year, and I for one am eagerly anticipating this annual event.

From its days as the Bruno&8217;s Memorial Classic at Greystone to its current days as

the Regions Classic at Ross Bridge, the tournament has raised nearly $10 million for charities such as United Way, the Alabama Kidney Foundation and the Alabama Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Just last year, the tournament was able to provide funds to almost 100 different charities.

And it all starts with you.

Just by attending the Classic and spending money during the tournament, you not only get a day&8217;s worth of great golf on one of Alabama&8217;s nicest golf courses, you also are helping out hundreds to thousands of Alabamians in need.

And while helping out by

attending is a great thing, the golf should not get lost in the mix.

The Classic gives fans a rare peek at some of yesteryear&8217;s greatest golfers.

Professionals like George Archer, Bob Murphy, Jim Dent, Graham Marsh, John Bland, Hale Irwin, Hubert Green, Larry Nelson, John Jacobs, Sammy Rachels, Tom Jenkins, Bruce Fleisher, D.A. Weibring and Brad Bryant have all won the Classic, with Bryant being the only repeat winner.

With a history like that, who knows who will win this weekend.