The 2010 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for...

From the picturesque TPC Summerlin Golf Course in Las Vegas, Nevada, Flexfit hats helped to create a festive and meaningful atmosphere at the annual Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, an annual stop on the PGA TOUR designed to raise money and awareness for Shriners Hospitals for Children.

The JT Shriners Open kicked off with the Fiji Water Youth Golf Clinic hosted by Pro-Trickshot Artist, Peter Johncke and tournament host Justin Timberlake. The Youth Clinic was filled with local kids from the community including the Boys and Girls Club, and patients from Shriners Hospitals for Children. “Just before the youth golf clinic we had a young man who had just had seven surgeries, and his golf game is amazing. He was out on the golf course with Justin to warm up before the youth clinic as the crowd came in,” explains John Slattery, Director of Marketing for the JT Shriners Open. During the youth golf clinic trickshot artist, Peter Johncke challenged host Justin Timberlake to perform a “Happy Gilmore” (ala the classic comedy film) where Justin had to run up to the golf ball and hit it, and Justin delivered,” explained Slattery. “Then Justin Timberlake began hitting some golf balls on his knees, which he did very well. For someone who is not a professional trickshot artist, Justin really delivered for the kids on cue,” continued Slattery.

The Pro AM began with inclement weather which tapered the two planned 18 hole rounds down to 9 holes each. As amateurs and pros gathered together indoors in the early part of the day, amateurs got a lot of bonding time in with the pros which ultimately spilled over onto the golf course as the weather cleared. Celebrity amateurs who played in the Pro AM included NFL legends Emmit Smith, Jerry Rice and Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie. Famous musicians Kenny G and JT Shriners Open host Justin Timberlake also played their best golf game alongside the pros.

Capping off this memorable week was a history making hole-in-one achieved by Jonathan Byrd, giving him first place in the JT Shriners Tournament. “At the end of the tournament three guys tied for the lead for three consecutive holes. They went to the fourth hole and it was getting dark. Jonathan Byrd hit his shot 240 yards and it went right in the cup. It was the first time a PGA TOUR Event ever ended with a hole in one,” exclaimed Slattery. As dusk approached Byrd’s winning shot landed about 10 feet from the hole on the Par 3, 204 yd. 17th hole and rolled in, causing the golfer to take a closer look to see that he actually made the record breaking victorious shot. Byrd proudly claimed his winning trophy surrounded by young patients from several of the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children located throughout the United States and Canada.

Flexfit is proud to have sponsored the JT Shriners Open for the second consecutive year, as proceeds benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children. Shriners encompasses 22 hospitals across North America that specialize in helping to improve the lives of children through specialized pediatric care, research and teaching programs. Shriners treats children with orthopedic conditions, spinal cord injuries, burns and cleft lip and palate. Families afflicted with these conditions are eligible for treatment at Shriners Hospitals for Children regardless of their ability to pay. As a 501 c (3) non-profit organization Shriners relies on its donors and fundraising events to provide outstanding medical care, to conduct innovative research and to remain a leader in pediatric medical education.

In addition to Flexfit’s sponsorship of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, other sponsors included: Fiji Water, Coca-cola, Kodak, TPC Summerlin, Dell, The Golf Channel, Golfweek, Hewlett Packard, and Palm Restaurant to name a few.

For more information, visit www.jtshrinersopen.com.