Tom Lehman to be honored at Ouimet Banquet

NORTON, MA ---- Tom Lehman, a former leading money winner on both the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour, British Open champion and member of the victorious 1999 Ryder Cup side at The Country Club, will be the guest speaker and honored with the 19th Francis Ouimet Award for Lifelong Contributions to Golf at the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund’s 65th Annual Banquet. The Banquet, which has become the largest annual golf dinner in America, is scheduled for Monday, April 11 at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. The Connolly Group – Morgan Stanley will again be the Presenting Sponsor.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tom Lehman back to the site of one of his greatest accomplishments in the game of golf: Metro Boston. Golf fans in this region certainly have indelible memories from the ’99 Ryder Cup” Gregory J. Gailius, Ouimet Fund President, said. “Tom is widely regarded as one of the game’s ‘good guys’ and we’re excited to have him as an honoree.”

Mr. Gailius went on to describe the great history of the banquet and its awardees that have included Former President George H.W. Bush, Peter Jacobsen, Jack and Barbara Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Mark O’Meara, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Annika Sorenstam.

Ticket and sponsorship information will be announced shortly on the Ouimet Fund’s website www.ouimet.org

Lehman has experienced success at every level of golf as he’s the only player in history to finish the season atop the PGA (1996), Champions (2011) and web.com (1991) tour money lists. He overcame a rocky start to his career but persevered, finishing within the top 75 of the TOUR’s money list for 13 seasons in a row, a testament to his consistency. He tasted victory five times of Tour, including hoisting the Claret Jug at the 1996 Open Championship, winning the Tour Championship that same year on his way to Player of the Year accolades. Lehman has had the honor of representing the stars and stripes six times in international competition, appearing on three Ryder Cup (1995, 1997, 1999) teams and three President Cup (1994, 1996, 2000) squads. Captain Ben Crenshaw tabbed Lehman to lead off singles play in the 1999 Ryder Cup at the Country Club in Brookline. The likable Minnesotan defeated Lee Westwood 3&2 as the USA completed an epic comeback that lives forever in golf lore.

He is highly regarded for his numerous charitable involvements and deep religious conviction and has been honored with the Payne Stewart and Byron Nelson Awards. He will be Vice Captain of the Ryder Cup Team this year in his home state of Minnesota.

The Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund was founded in 1949 and since then has awarded nearly $30 Million in need based college tuition assistance to young people who served at least two years as caddies or in pro shop and course superintendent operations in Massachusetts. In the current school year, The Fund awarded 394 scholarships to students who worked at 141 courses and are attending 146 colleges. A total of 5,429 students have received Ouimet Scholarships and many have gone on to outstanding positions of leadership in business and professional careers. The Fund is a 501 (c) (3) organization.