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4th Annual Saluki Men's Golf Fundraiser coming up

SIU men's golf coach first recruiting class will be seniors, starting with the upcoming fall season. Fetcho's treat to Luke Gannon, Peyton Wilhoit and Hunter York is a tournament trip to Hawaii in the spring.

A by-product of that trip even being possible is because of the annual SIU men's golf scramble, which in its third year, will kick off August 2nd and 3rd.

Fetcho, who graduated from Eldorado High School and John A. Logan College, was a two-time All-American scholar at South Florida and has had coaching stints at Oregon and Illinois.

He calls the first four years at Southern a complete turnaround and believes it all started with the fundraiser.

"Our first year, we didn't fly to one tournament and that's okay," Fetcho said. "But aside from being able schedule harder, better tournaments where we get to travel to California, Arizona, Florida and North Carolina, this fundraiser also helps with equipment and apparel.

"Honestly, the whole thing has really taken off to a whole other level, but I can also promise that without a successful fundraiser, our guys wouldn't be afforded the opportunities they have. This makes for a complete game-changer for the student-athlete experience when we have this kind of support from our community."

Again, this year, the dinner and auction will take place on Thursday, Aug. 2, at Pinch Penny Pub Beer Garden in Carbondale from 6-9 p.m.

Items up for grab include tickets to the upcoming PGA Championship at Bellerive Golf Course, as well as, a round of golf at Bellerive following the tournament. A 4-some package to TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tenn., A Victoria National package, a signed Sergio Garcia hat and other items including golf gear and Saluki men's golf apparel.

The night of the dinner and auction, which is a much more laid back atmosphere, is where Fetcho said he would like to see a chunk of the crowd at.

"This is a chance for a guys night out or a girls night out, take your pick. I really want to get people out to see this team and see what we are all about grow this thing even more. This is another opportunity to come out to Pinch Penny to have some food or drinks and catch up with old friends or even make new ones."

On Friday, Aug. 1, the six-person scramble will start at 1 p.m. and while Fetcho said he is already full with the allotted 22-teams, there are other ways people and business' can get involved.

"There is now a high demand to play in this tournament," Fetcho said. "So we filled up pretty quick. However, we are still looking for banner sponsors or hole sponsors and this will get your company name or logo on the golf course and is a good way to show support."

Legence Bank and Dalhousie Golf Course are both title sponsors for the event. Deadline for on-line registration for the dinner, auction or sponsorships will be Friday.

For more information, contact Fetcho at 618-453-7248 or email:jfetcho@siu.edu.

Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Southern Illinois Local Media News Group. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.