Thursday, August 07, 2008

            JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (August 7, 2008) - ETSU Hall of Fame golfer Mike Hulbert has consistently brought recognition to the Buccaneer athletic program throughout his career as a professional golfer. A multiple winner on the PGA Tour, a television commentator, and current player on the Champions Tour, Hulbert - a 1980 graduate of ETSU - continues to do his part to support ETSU golf.

            Most recently, Hulbert was asked to assist the Bristol Morning Rotary Club with their annual Youth Charity Golf Tournament at The Virginian. Hulbert helped the event bring in PGA pros such as Brandt Snedeker, Davis Love III, and Lucas Glover, which took the event to a new level in excitement and fund raising. The Bristol Morning Rotary then held a luncheon late last month and donated $10,000 to the ETSU Mike Hulbert Men's Golf Scholarship Endowment at Hulbert's request.

            "It's nice to be able to give back, whether to the charities that help children in Bristol or the scholarship fund there at ETSU," said Hulbert, whose is working as a television commentator this week at the PGA Championship. "I was glad to help the Bristol Morning Rotary, but I also wanted to make sure something was going to ETSU. That place has a special place in my heart. I went to school there, my in-laws live near by, and I'm close to Coach Warren and a lot of the people in the athletic department there. I was glad we could do it. I was surprised a little bit by the amount that was donated because anything would have been great. But $10,000 was a nice number."

            Alex Anderson was the Bristol Morning Rotary's Co-Chair for the golf event. He said Hulbert's involvement was critical.

            "Mike Hulbert is a great friend and ambassador for our region," Anderson said. "He has a demonstrated a keen interest in promoting the youth charities that we serve. His celebrity and influence has greatly enhanced the Bristol Morning Rotary Golf Classic and allowed us to take our event to the next level. Our club looks forward to continuing our relationship with Mike and East Tennessee State University for many years to come."

            ETSU men's golf coach Fred Warren said he is grateful for Hulbert's consistent support.

            "I appreciate the generosity of the Bristol Morning Rotary Club and all of the support that Mike Hulbert continues to give to ETSU and our golf program," Warren said. "Mike does so many things to help others and he has been an important part of the ETSU Golf Program since his freshman year over 30 years ago."

            For more on ETSU men's golf or giving to the Buccaneer Athletic Scholarship Association, visit ETSUBucs.com.