The Memorial Health Championship, a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event on the Korn Ferry Tour, featured 156 players from around the world vying for a total purse of $1,000,000. Since the inaugural year in 2016, the tournament has continued to grow with an expected economic impact of over five million dollars on the central Illinois region.
Last year’s event raised an impressive $85,000 for Memorial Health's five hospital foundations. The funds will be equally distributed among the Springfield, Decatur, Jacksonville, Lincoln, and Taylorville hospitals, making a positive impact on the communities they serve.
“We’re thrilled to host an event that provides an exciting entertainment option for golf fans, and also generates a positive charitable impact on our community,” said Kate Peters, the executive director of the tournament. “Interest in the tournament and golf in general is at an all-time high. We were thrilled to see our 2021 Champion, Taylor Moore, get his first win on the PGA TOUR recently and earn a coveted spot in the Masters, taking place this week. The path to the PGA TOUR truly does come through Springfield.”
Aimee Daily, Ph.D., senior vice president and chief transformation officer for Memorial Health, expressed gratitude for the tournament’s donation, which would have a significant positive impact on the local communities where Memorial’s five hospitals are located.
"The donations to our five hospitals' foundations will support our colleagues and patients, furthering our mission to improve lives and build stronger communities through better health," she said.