The 19th Annual Corey for St. Jude Golf Tournament to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital raised $72,000 this year during play Oct. 10 at the Miami Lakes Golf Club. The tournament is named for child cancer survivor Corey Sticco. The hospital in Memphis, Tenn. serves children with cancer, and it does not charge families for treatment, travel, housing or food while their loved ones are receiving treatment.
The title sponsor was Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Gold sponsors were Atlas Metal; Down Stream Designs, Inc.; The Graham Companies; Harrell’s; FLORIDA LEMARK; Lockton Cares; OneTwoTree.com and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. Silver sponsors were Bayer; BASF; Brown & Brown Insurance; DAL Business Systems LLC; Golf Turf Applications, Inc.; Greenzkeeper Wholesale Supply; Hector; Pipefitters, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Union Local 725; Luis Estrada; Syngenta; TurfTech Solutions Inc. Food and beverage sponsors were Boston Beer Co.; Shorty’s BarBQ and Smokey Bones. Gus Machado Ford sponsored the hole-in-one contest.
Corey Sticco, now 32, was diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was 7 years old. His chances for survival were unlikely, his parents Dana and Tom Sticco were told. They have another son named Casey.
The family turned to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for help. Corey survived two brain surgeries, eye surgeries and other treatments, the tournament said. He uses a wheelchair. He is known for his sense of humor. And he is a fan of the Miami Marlins. Corey stays busy. He greets guests during his part-time job at a Publix supermarket and bags groceries. He is also a volunteer at the pediatric cancer ward of Memorial Regional Hospital.
Shown above from left are Kenny Fill, director of golf at the Miami Lakes Golf Club; Corey Sticco; his father Tim Sticco, golf club superintendent and Dr. Thomas Merchant, Corey’s surgeon. The tournaments date to 2005 and have raised $852,780 in donations to St. Jude, including this year’s contributions.