Frog Club tournament to be played at Tour 18
Open to raise money for scholarships
By Emily Baker
Staff Reporter

About 140 supporters of TCU’s purple and white will hit the greens May 5 to help raise money for athletic scholarships at the TCU Frog Club Open golf tournament, said Mark

Mourer, associate director of TCU Frog Club.

The tournament, which will held at Tour 18 in Flower Mound, has helped underwrite athletic scholarships, particularly golf scholarships, for more than 10 years, Mourer said.

Each group has a TCU coach or a member of the athletic staff who plays with them, Mourer said.

Though the main goal of the event is to raise money for scholarships, participant and former TCU Frog Club President John Cockrell said the tournament provides for a fun afternoon and a chance to meet people.

“It’s a fun way to support TCU athletics,” Cockrell said. “It’s also a way to get to know the coaches better. It is a well-run tournament and an opportunity to support the Frog Club, so why not play?”

Mourer said he expects the tournament to gross about $28,000, which means about $20,000 for scholarships after expenses to run the tournament are taken into account.

That money comes from the $200 entry fee for each participant, Mourer said.

The TCU Frog Club tournament is not the main money-raiser for scholarships, Mourer said. The Horned Frog Classic golf tournament, which takes place each fall, raised nearly $200,000 for scholarships in October 2002, Mourer said.

The event began as a way for fans to interact with coaches, retired Associate Athletic Director Mel Thomas said. After spring football training, the coaches were made available for fans to meet and play golf with, he said. The event grew into a fundraiser when the Frog Club took over the event from the Athletic Department, Thomas said.

The golf course chosen for the tournament changes each year, Mourer said. This is the first year the Tour 18 has been chosen, Mourer said.

“This course is designed to mimic the best holes in golf,” Mourer said. “It is set up to feel like you are playing that hole at the Masters.”

Prizes are awarded for first, second, third and last place. Prizes have not been determined yet, Mourer said.

The deadline to sign up for the tournament is May 1. The $200 entry fee covers the green fee, a golf cart, range balls, a box lunch, a tee gift and a post-golf program, Mourer said. Check-in time for the tournament is noon and is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., Mourer said.

e.k.baker@tcu.edu