By Susan Junior

Staff Writer

Do you have a professional golf dream foursome?

The British Open always attracts the best pro golfers on tour as one of the major championships.

Now is your opportunity to pick your top-four golfers to compete in the Big Ben’s Open Challenge, now in its fourth year, and help to continue to alleviate food insecurity among our children.

Go to the link, pick your personal British Open foursome, track your team live and compete for prizes and bragging rights.

Tickets are $20 each and may be purchased now through Wednesday at 11:55 p.m.

Scan the QR Code or go to Ben.propelmg.com to purchase tickets and make selections.

SPONSORED BY

Ben Curtis of Kent surprised everyone when he won the British Open 22 years ago in his first major appearance. That was only the beginning of a 15-year PGA tour career that included four wins and a spot on the 2008 Ryder Cup Team.

In 2013, Ben and Candace Curtis founded the Ben Curtis Family Foundation to fight childhood hunger in their hometown of Kent.

The Birdie Bag program now serves 15 school districts across Northeast Ohio providing kids with meals and snacks for weekends, breaks and summer. The program is again expanding this year, adding Crestwood Local Schools and Pfeiffer Elementary in Akron.

The BCFF also hosts a Very Merry Dinner, delivering holiday meals and personalized gifts to over 800 children and families. That is an expansion of that program in 12 districts.

Playing the Big Ben’s Open Challenge, inspired by Ben Curtis’ Open Championship, is not only fun, but raises money to continue the Curtis’ goal of alleviating childhood hunger.

One-third of the pot and all donations will go to the Ben Curtis Family Foundation. The rest payout to participants.

Winners are announced on Sunday with payouts to first, second, third and fourth places.

Best finishing team in Portage or Summit County wins a $50 gift card to Hopocan Gardens Chicken in Barberton donated by Brian Canale.

Extra $20 donation enters into a drawing to win giveaways at Club 283, Ben Curtis’ golf academy that includes golf simulator, coaching and much more.

HOW TO PLAY

Go to the website, or scan the QR code, and pick your British Open foursome. Your team is chosen: One player within the Top 10 of the world golf rankings, one player in the Top 25 (11-25), one player in the Top 50 (26-50) and one player from the rest of the field.

Detailed information will be available on the website and in the email sent to those registering regarding cutline, disqualification or withdrawal.

LOCAL GOLF COURSE AND BUSINESS HELP

A fundraiser continues, Christmas in July for Toy Drive at Laziza in Kent, Gionino’s, (two locations) Missing Mountain Brewing Co. in Kent and Fairways at Twin Lakes in Kent.

Golf courses with flyers and helping the Big Ben Open Challenge include:

Spring Hills in New Franklin, Brookledge in Cuyahoga Falls, Fox Den in Stow, Raccoon Hill in Kent, Mill Creek in Ostrander (Ben’s family course), Ellsworth Golf in Hudson, Sugar Bush Garrettsville, Fairways at Twin Lakes in Kent, Olde Dutch Mill in Lake Milton, Windmill Lakes in Ravenna, Sunny Hill in Brimfield and Sable Creek in Hartville.