The 24th Annual NCU Open tees off on Monday, June 12 at Rush Creek Golf Club to support student scholarships. This year’s tournament is a partnership between NCU Athletics and Advancement and Athletic Director Greg Johnson is serving as the NCU Open chair.
Registration is now open for individuals and teams of four to compete in the scramble golf tournament, with both lunch and dinner included.
The event, previously hosted at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club located in Lakeville, moves to Maple Grove this summer. Along with the exciting venue change is the opportunity to meet President-elect Scott Hagan. Hagan officially begins his duties as NCU’s seventh president on June 1, 2017 and will be at the tournament to get acquainted with NCU friends and alumni.
Just 20 miles from of downtown Minneapolis, the 18-hole championship golf course has hosted a number of national golf events including three LPGA tournaments and the 2004 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. One of the biggest annual events hosted at Rush Creek is the Randy Shaver Celebrity Golf Classic, which takes place a week before the NCU Open.
Blessing students like Saorsa
Funds raised from this tournament will serve a variety of NCU students through student scholarships. Saorsa (pronounced seer-sha) is an American who grew up in Ireland with missionary parents. Although her plans were in place to attend another college, one month before school was to start, a friend invited her to visit North Central. The visit and an interview made it clear to her: “I felt God was calling me to come here.”
Along with the calling came much needed practical assistance in the form of financial aid. Saorsa recognizes that part of her aid package was made possible by donors who give to North Central. “It’s amazing how people would give to students,” she says. “To know there are people out there who take the time and opportunity—and money-to give to my education makes me feel special.”
Saorsa is thriving at NCU, serving this year as a Discipleship Leader and next year she’ll be a Resident Advisor. One of her favorite aspects of campus life is daily chapel. “It’s every day and the center of our day is spending time with God,” Saorsa explains. She deeply values the student-led worship and speakers who “keep us awake and alive for Jesus!”
With plans to serve as a missionary in Asia one day, Saorsa sees NCU as a school for leaders, noting, “This is a place the church will grow from. People will learn here, grow here, and out of here will go and change the world.”
Golfing to make a difference
Many students benefit each year from student scholarships, and we look forward to another opportunity to support our students financially by raising money on the course.
Registration deadline for the NCU Open is June 5. Corporate sponsorships and hole sponsorships are also available—details and event registration are at northcentral.edu/ncuopen.
