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Duke Golf Opens Year Five of Birdies for Babies Program
8/31/2021 4:29:00 PM | Men's Golf, Women's Golf
DURHAM, N.C. – On Monday afternoon, members of the Duke men's and women's golf programs along with Duke Children's staff and doctors gathered at the Washington Duke Inn as the Blue Devils presented a check for $21,036 to the Duke Children's Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units. The check represented earnings from year four of the Birdies for Babies program, which was shortened due to COVID-19 in 2020-21. Â
It also marked the kickoff for year five of the Birdies for Babies program, which raises money towards Duke Children's Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units. Â
Over the last four years, the Duke golf program has raised a total of $68,338 for the children. Â
Those looking to support Duke's partnership with Duke Children's can make pledges per birdie. Pledges will start at $0.50 and high pledge increments are welcome. If the Blue Devils register an eagle (counts as two birdies), albatross (three birdies) and hole-in-one (four birdies) they will count as stated.
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The creation of the program was spearheaded by recent Duke graduate and former NCAA Champion women's golfer Virginia Elena Carta. A native of Udine, Italy, Carta was a four-time All-ACC selection and the 2016 NCAA Individual Champion. The 2016 WGCA All-America and Honda Award winner turned in a NCAA-record 16-under-par ledger of 272 as a rookie to register her first collegiate victory. She became one of only four Blue Devils to win both a NCAA Individual and team NCAA title.
"To be able to play golf is such a privilege and to be at an institution like Duke is also another privilege," said Duke women's golf senior Gina Kim. "Just being able to give back to the community and be able to do something very meaningful – it is an honor to do this. So, I personally am very happy to be a part of this and be a part of this whole presentation. It is a great reminder that there are bigger things in life than just golf and you can definitely make an impact through your sport. Being able to have that constant reminder on the golf course that we are not just playing for ourselves, but for the university and for the neonatal intensive care unit at the Duke Children's Hospital. It is something we have always been honored to be a part of."
Duke Children's is a 180-bed inpatient hospital within Duke University Hospital. The central outpatient clinic, the McGovern-Davison Children's Health Center, is a 66,000 square-foot facility that is adjacent to the hospital, and that combines medical and surgical specialty services in one colorful, child-focused location. Additionally, there are numerous Duke Children's primary care and specialty care clinics through North Carolina to care for the needs of children throughout the state. Duke Children's is one of the largest health care providers for children in the Southeast, and the only children's hospital in North Carolina to be ranked in all 10 specialties by the U.S. News & World Report. Learn more about Duke Children's online at www.dukechildrens.org or at www.facebook.com/dukechildrens.
"It means a ton," said Dr. Michael Cotton, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Neonatology at Duke Children's. "Getting this [check] for the fourth running year, despite the challenges of the past couple years is amazing. It is a true sign, I think, of their fortitude, their generosity and certainly their excellence out on the course. It is great to see these young champions share their skills and share what they win with the neonates and the caregivers at Duke Children's."
The men's program will open the 2021-22 campaign Sept. 5-6 at the Turning Stone Tiger Invitational, while the women's team will kick off the season Sept. 13-15 at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate. Â
To donate to the Birdies for Babies program, head here.
#GoDuke
It also marked the kickoff for year five of the Birdies for Babies program, which raises money towards Duke Children's Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units. Â
Over the last four years, the Duke golf program has raised a total of $68,338 for the children. Â
Those looking to support Duke's partnership with Duke Children's can make pledges per birdie. Pledges will start at $0.50 and high pledge increments are welcome. If the Blue Devils register an eagle (counts as two birdies), albatross (three birdies) and hole-in-one (four birdies) they will count as stated.
Â
The creation of the program was spearheaded by recent Duke graduate and former NCAA Champion women's golfer Virginia Elena Carta. A native of Udine, Italy, Carta was a four-time All-ACC selection and the 2016 NCAA Individual Champion. The 2016 WGCA All-America and Honda Award winner turned in a NCAA-record 16-under-par ledger of 272 as a rookie to register her first collegiate victory. She became one of only four Blue Devils to win both a NCAA Individual and team NCAA title.
"To be able to play golf is such a privilege and to be at an institution like Duke is also another privilege," said Duke women's golf senior Gina Kim. "Just being able to give back to the community and be able to do something very meaningful – it is an honor to do this. So, I personally am very happy to be a part of this and be a part of this whole presentation. It is a great reminder that there are bigger things in life than just golf and you can definitely make an impact through your sport. Being able to have that constant reminder on the golf course that we are not just playing for ourselves, but for the university and for the neonatal intensive care unit at the Duke Children's Hospital. It is something we have always been honored to be a part of."
Duke Children's is a 180-bed inpatient hospital within Duke University Hospital. The central outpatient clinic, the McGovern-Davison Children's Health Center, is a 66,000 square-foot facility that is adjacent to the hospital, and that combines medical and surgical specialty services in one colorful, child-focused location. Additionally, there are numerous Duke Children's primary care and specialty care clinics through North Carolina to care for the needs of children throughout the state. Duke Children's is one of the largest health care providers for children in the Southeast, and the only children's hospital in North Carolina to be ranked in all 10 specialties by the U.S. News & World Report. Learn more about Duke Children's online at www.dukechildrens.org or at www.facebook.com/dukechildrens.
"It means a ton," said Dr. Michael Cotton, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Neonatology at Duke Children's. "Getting this [check] for the fourth running year, despite the challenges of the past couple years is amazing. It is a true sign, I think, of their fortitude, their generosity and certainly their excellence out on the course. It is great to see these young champions share their skills and share what they win with the neonates and the caregivers at Duke Children's."
The men's program will open the 2021-22 campaign Sept. 5-6 at the Turning Stone Tiger Invitational, while the women's team will kick off the season Sept. 13-15 at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate. Â
To donate to the Birdies for Babies program, head here.
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
PLAYER
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