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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Special Olympics champion to participate in Griffins Youth Foundation Golf Classic

August 18, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids, Mich. – East Kentwood High School junior Mike Higgs, who won a national championship at the 2003 Special Olympics Golf National Invitational Tournament, will be a special guest at the 2004 Grand Rapids Griffins Youth Foundation Golf Classic. The tenth annual event will be held at Railside Golf Club in Byron Center next Monday, Aug. 23.

Mike will be stationed at the 130-yard, par-3 sixth hole for a "Challenge the Champ" contest. Each golfer will be asked to make a $5 contribution to the foundation before attempting to land their ball closer to the pin than Higgs. All participating golfers will receive door prize raffle tickets in exchange for their donations, while those who beat Mike's shot will be rewarded with additional tickets.

Higgs, a member of East Kentwood's JV golf team, earned his national championship last September in Port St. Lucie, Fla. He was paired with his father, John, in Level 3, an alternate shot team play format that teams a Special Olympics player with a non-Special Olympics player of similar ability.

After finishing third in the 2002 tournament, the father-son duo led last year's competition after the first of three rounds on the 18-hole course at PGA Golf Club. They combined for an 85, the day's best score in Level 3 and five shots better than their previous best. Following a second-day score of 93, the pair rebounded to shoot 87 during the final round, claiming the gold medal with a total of 265.

The Griffins Youth Foundation has been a long-time partner of Special Olympics Michigan and currently operates weekly open skating programs for adult aged participants at Griff's IceHouse at Belknap Park in Grand Rapids.

Mike will join a host of hockey celebrities taking part in the tournament. Among those scheduled to participate are Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland and assistant GM Jim Nill, 1980 U.S. Olympic gold medalists Ken Morrow and Jack O'Callahan, Kentwood native and current Philadelphia Flyers right wing Mike Knuble, former Griffins and current Florida Panthers defenseman Joel Kwiatkowski, Chicago Blackhawks and former Grand Rapids Owls broadcaster Pat Foley, Griffins GM Bob McNamara, head coach Danton Cole and defenseman Travis Richards.

A few openings in the tournament are still available at a cost of $800 per foursome or $225 per individual. Interested parties should contact Michael Sekulich at (616) 451-9708.

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