Benedictine offering chance to golf with Lee Trevino

Lee Trevino went from earning a few dollars by finding golf balls to help support his mother, sisters and grandfather to PGA Tour money leader at the age of 31 and one of golf's flashiest showmen.

Today, Trevino prefers to work in the shadows, donating much of his time and energy to a number of charities.

Trevino will emerge long enough to headline the 17th annual President's Invitational Golf Outing sponsored by Benedictine University June 27 at Cantigny Golf in Wheaton.

Four lucky golfers will have the opportunity to take to the links with Trevino. University Events is sponsoring an auction with the winner and his or her foursome winning two hours of golf with Trevino. For more information, go to www.ben.edu/community/events/golf/auction.cfm.

The bidding starts at $2,500 and increases in increments of $100.

Trevino grew up in a rundown shanty on the outskirts of Dallas about 100 yards from the Dallas Athletic Club golf course. At age 8, he began caddying for the local players while learning the game by using old, discarded clubs on a short, three-hole course behind the caddies' shack.

Following a stint in the Marines, Trevino resumed playing golf and, despite a completely self-taught style many thought would lead to a short, unproductive career, he exploded onto the professional golf scene, winning the U.S. Open in just his second year on tour.

During the course of his career which included being struck by lightning while playing at the Western Open in 1975 Trevino won the U.S. and British Opens twice, the Canadian Open and PGA title three times, and amassed 58 career victories on the PGA and Senior tours.

Despite his brush with death, his impoverished upbringing and a series of painful back operations, Trevino maintains his celebrated sense of humor.

“I have been hit by lightning and been in the Marine Corps for four years,” he said. “I've traveled the world and been about everywhere you can imagine. There's not anything I'm scared of … except my wife.”

For more information about the golf outing, or to become a sponsor, contact Debbie Smith in the Benedictine University Events Office at (630) 829-6080, e-mail dsmith@ben.edu or visit www.ben.edu/community/events/golf/.