Tournament seeks hundreds of volunteers

~ Dalhousie will host the Tournament of Champions July 1 to 4.

Mark Hogan knows all about the importance of making a quality pitch as Southeast Missouri State's baseball coach.

The Redhawks' season has been over for about a month, but Hogan is making a key pitch that does not center around the diamond.

Hogan's delivery is to the public as he seeks hundreds of volunteers for the American Junior Golf Association's Rolex Tournament of Champions that will be held July 1 through 4 at Dalhousie Golf Club.

Hogan is the volunteer committee chairman for the AJGA's most prestigious tournament that will feature 144 of the nation's best golfers ages 12 to 18.

"We need volunteers in a lot of areas, on the course and off the course, in order to make it as great an event as possible for the kids and their families," Hogan said. "You don't have to have any golf skill. You don't even have to understand the game. There are plenty of things to do that will just be public service type of things.

"And you don't have to be from the immediate area. It can be anybody from the region who wants to come in and help."

Volunteers are needed for six sessions of the four-day tournament.

Sixty-eight volunteers are needed for each of two sessions July 1 and 2 -- 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. -- when all 144 golfers will play the first two rounds.

For July 3 and 4, when the field will be cut by a minimum of 40 percent, 75 volunteers are needed for each day's session that runs from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hogan said volunteers can commit to as many sessions as they like, but he realizes many volunteers only will be able to commit to one session.

"I'm hoping we can get 300 people so we can spread it out pretty good," said Hogan, also the volunteer committee chairman for the 2008 Dalhousie Junior Championship. "Last year we had over 200 people."

Hogan said tournament volunteers will be well rewarded for their efforts.

In addition to a free lunch, any volunteer that works at least one session will receive a polo-type tournament shirt, which volunteers will wear while performing their duties, and a free round of golf at Dalhousie at a later date.

"I volunteered that first year and I just loved it," Hogan said of the 2007 tournament. "I loved the atmosphere and I really enjoyed being around the kids and their families, getting to know them.

"It was a real rewarding experience for me and I think anybody who volunteers will feel the same way."

Anybody interested in volunteering, or those seeking more information, should call the tournament volunteer hot line at 803-0055.