3rd annual Arrow Open benefits literacy

Sporting blue golf polos, straw hats and bags with gorilla head covers, about 300 people came out to have fun and support a good cause Sunday at the Cascades Golf Course.

Many fathers and daughters participated in the third annual Arrow Open golf tournament and philanthropy event for Pi Beta Phi, in part benefiting First Book, an organization in Bloomington that is trying to combat illiteracy.

The tournament included 220 participants, who each paid $40 to play 18 holes, win prizes and raffle drawings and enjoy a banquet dinner.

The tournament included the support of all 115 members of Pi Beta Phi, many coming to help and be with their dads.  

Sophomore Hannah Mordoh, who said she has really never been golfing with her dad before, said she has enjoyed spending time with her father as part of the sorority’s dads weekend and served as his caddy for the event. 

“I think it’s a good way to get our philanthropy in and also get our dads involved in something like a golf tournament which I think they have fun with,” she said.

Mordoh’s father Gilbert, a novice golfer who plays more softball and basketball than golf, said he too has appreciated spending time with his daughter.

“It’s a nice sorority, Pi Phi. They are good girls,” he said.

After raising $10,000 last year, Pi Beta Phi had already collected $12,000 before Sunday’s outing and hopes to meet their overall goal this year of $20,000. Part of the money is also donated to the Pi Beta Phi Foundation, which supports scholarships, and Holt House, where national archives are kept. 

Senior Jen Naye, the vice president of philanthropy for Pi Beta Phi and organizer of the event, stressed the importance of their mission.

“By everyone coming out today and having a good time we are going to get books in the hands of children that can’t afford it,” she said.

Naye also said she felt good seeing the girls in her sorority spend time with their dads this weekend.

“It’s really fun for the girls to cap off dads’ weekend spending a day with them out on the golf course,” she said.

Junior Kathleen Farrell came with her father, a self-described weekend warrior, Rory Farrell, who said he plays a fair amount of golf in his spare time.

Kathleen Farrell, in an effort to expose her dad to what she does at IU, took him out to Nick’s English Hut, Kilroy’s Bar & Grill, on a tour of campus, tailgating and the football game. Her father then capped it off with two things he loves: his daughter and golf. Covering his clubs were two animal head covers: a lion and a gorilla. The lion was named Roar because a lion’s roar matches the name a lot of people call Farrell’s dad, something he said he liked.

“I don’t take my golf that seriously,” he said. “You got to have some fun while you’re out there.”

Sophomore Andrea Blanco’s father could not make it, but her boyfriend, sophomore Jake Kuczeruk, filled in and said he enjoyed being with her.

“I think it’s a great thing,” he said. “It’s great that we are doing this for charity. It makes it a lot easier to get up and get out here.”

Naye said the tournament had a great turnout with fathers coming from as far away as California, and after participating in the event she said it will always have a special place in her heart.

“It’s been a great experience, and it’s really nice to have the support of everyone in the house,” she said. “Everyone comes out to support you, and then having the community come out and participate, it’s an incredible feeling.”