Take It Easy Open raises more than $2,000 for Jackson scholarship
Golfers raised more than $2,000 at the 15th annual Take It Easy Open, funds that will support IU Journalism’s John M. Jackson Memorial Scholarship.
The open drew about 30 participants to Arrowhead Golf Course in Greenfield for the July 18 outing. The winning team included Greg Bardonner, Dan Murphy, Brad Watts and Stan Watts.
Other winners were Candace Murphy for longest drive (women); Greg Bardonner for longest drive overall; and Mike Frech, Craig Cox and Candace Murphy for closest to the pin. Craig Cox won the putting contest, and Riley Watts won the children’s division of the putting contest.
In addition to the golf outing, the organizers gave away prizes, including a ball signed by IU soccer coach Todd Yeagley.
Participants say the goal of the outing is to keep alive the memory of John Jackson, who died in 1996 of a brain aneurysm. The IU senior had been IDS editor-in-chief the summer before his death.
The friends who founded the group, “the TEO boys,” include John Schwarb, Brad Watts, JR Ross, Tom Biersdorfer and Greg Bardonner.
This year, New Palestine High School, Jackson’s alma mater, contributed $650 raised by teachers as their annual philanthropic project. The outing has raised more than $60,000 for scholarships, and the group aims to raise $100,000 by 2020.