On Tuesday, August 24, 2021, Gay Davis—co-founder of Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club near Portland, Oregon and generous CCA friend—thanked the crowd of golf pros, amateurs, and their families for joining him at the 11th annual Golf for Joy pro-am tournament, his favorite day of the year.
“Let me tell you why this is my favorite day of the year,” said Gay. “For some people, it might be their birthday, or the holidays—but for me, it’s Golf for Joy. When else am I able to play my favorite game on this beautiful golf course, alongside my closest friends, and create joy for sick kids while supporting an organization near and dear to my heart?”
Over the past 11 years, Gay’s Golf for Joy event has raised more than $2 million in vital funding for CCA—with this year alone adding another $580,000 to the event’s contributions. Gay and his guests’ overwhelming generosity directly supports CCA’s free-of-charge JoyRx programs, which are designed to support emotional healing for thousands of young patients and their families every year.
A Historic Day
Not only is Golf for Joy Gay’s favorite day of the year—our 11th annual tournament coincided with the 25th anniversary of Tiger Woods and Steve Scott’s historic match at the 1996 U.S. Amateur Championship finals, hosted at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.
On August 25, twenty-five years ago, Tiger Woods was attempting to claim an unprecedented third-straight win at the Amateur Championships. Steve Scott, then 19, made six birdies to build a five-up lead after the morning 18-hole round, and it looked like he was going to take the win. Then, Scott’s simple act of sportsmanship changed the course of the match. Those nine words, “hey Tiger, you need to move your mark back,” saved Tiger from losing the match to a rule violation, and he went on to win the championship.
To commemorate this momentous occasion in golf history, Pumpkin Ridge returned the entire course back to the exact hole placement design as it had 25 years ago and invited Steve Scott back to play in CCA’s Golf for Joy tournament. Steve also conducted a celebrity golf clinic, hosted a book signing, and gave an inspiring talk about fate and integrity during the dinner reception.
“This game, it teaches you so many great things, and it also serves as a vehicle for so many great things—like why we’re here tonight. CCA is a very special organization, and I’m proud to be here speaking with all of you.”
— Steve Scott, speaking at CCA’s 11th annual Golf for Joy tournament and dinner reception
Sunshine, Smiles, and JOY
Golfers were treated to three beautiful days at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course, playing on both Witch Hollow and Ghost Creek courses as they competed for a purse prize.
Congratulations to our amateur team winners— Zach Burton, Malcom Mulholland, Luke Crapo, and Stephen Parker, led by pro Zach Johnson!
And hats off to our winner in the pro competition—Steve Scott (first place), Zach Johnson (second place), and Riley Elmes (third place)!
Of course, the true winners are the children and families served by CCA—some of whom our guests were able to meet during the event.
Erin Morrison, an 18-year-old served by CCA, introduced players at the first tee at Witch Hollow.
And Iris Tilley, mom to 7-year-old Eli, inspired golfers with a heartwarming speech about the powerful difference Eli’s JoyRx Mentor, Brian, made for Eli during his past two years of treatment.
“CCA isn’t about research, it’s about building connections, getting birthday signs in kids’ yards, hosting craft nights. Something you learn as a parent of a child with cancer, is that treatment isn’t a sprint—it’s a marathon. Finding joy in the little moments—hearing music in the hospital lobby, watching my kids play with instruments as if everything were normal, listening to my son chatter on FaceTime with his good friend, Brian—is how we get by, one lego set at a time.”
—Iris, mom to Eli, age 7
We were also delighted to host a Kids’ Clinic for CCA-served kids and their families to enjoy safe, socially distant golf at this award-winning golf club.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
It was an incredible three days that could not have been possible without the kind support of our wonderful sponsors—thank you!
In-kind: Black Rock Coffee • Breakside Brewery • Columbia Sportswear • Legacy Whisky Pepsi • Portland Gear • Rose City Distilling • ShedRain • Tito’s Vodka
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