Philly sports stars support First Tee at the Mike Quick Celebrity Invitational: ‘They understand the importance of it’
One day after the PGA Championship wrapped up, there was another golf tournament taking place in Philly — this one for a good cause.
Less than 24 hours after the conclusion of the PGA Championship, former Eagles like Jason Kelce, Brian Westbrook, and Brandon Graham — the last of whom could be back for one more season — were competing in their own golf tournament: the 11th annual Mike Quick Celebrity Invitational.
“I timed this up perfectly,” Quick, the longtime Eagles radio analyst and former wide receiver, joked Monday. “No, I wasn’t thinking. When we set the date we weren’t thinking about the PGA, but it just worked out perfectly. A lot of our kids were able to go and watch the practice rounds. And several of our kids worked in the event. So, that was pretty cool.”
One of those kids was 18-year-old Jake Ruppert. Ruppert has been part of First Tee’s Caddie Academy since he was in eighth grade. Now a senior at Father Judge High School, Ruppert had the opportunity to be a standard-bearer at the PGA Championship this week at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square — and drew a pretty big assignment, carrying the scoreboard for champion Aaron Rai’s group.
» READ MORE: Aronimink and Philly fans star at the PGA Championship in a year of big events in Philadelphia | Marcus Hayes
Ruppert was also recently awarded the Platt Evans Scholarship for his work as a caddie at the Union League Golf Club at Torresdale, the same Northeast Philadelphia course that hosted Quick’s annual charity event. With the four-year full scholarship, Ruppert will attend Penn State to major in finance. But first, he had another big assignment, caddying for a former Eagles cornerback.
“It’s a good time,” Ruppert said. “Showing that I got this scholarship. It’s kind of a coincidence that all of this golf is coming around. It’s really cool and I’m honored to caddie for James Bradberry today, and just have the ability to walk courses like Aronimink and Union League.”
During last year’s event, Ruppert had the opportunity to caddie for Kelce, who was back in attendance this year. The former Eagles center lined up at the first tee and took a few practice swings before loading up his backswing. As he prepared to swing, a cameraman’s phone rang. Kelce connected with the ball, but it went far right.
“That was your fault,” Kelce said to the cameraman before taking off in his golf cart.
Kelce was just one of the many famous faces competing in the tournament, which raises money for the First Tee of Greater Philadelphia, the local chapter of the national nonprofit organization whose mission is to teach children life skills through the game of golf.
With over 50 golf carts parked in front of the clubhouse at The Union League Golf Club at Torresdale, Philly sports stars like Graham, Westbrook, Brent Celek, Rodney McLeod, and Marc Jackson waited to tee off.
“They understand the importance of it,” Quick said. “They see the growth in a lot of our kids and people want to be part of that. People want to pour into the youth and give them the best chance that they can give them. And that’s why people show up each and every year for us.”
» READ MORE: Aronimink defeated some of golf’s biggest stars on Sunday. Aaron Rai made the shots they couldn’t.
Quick has been on the board of First Tee for over a decade, and was recently honored alongside his partner in the Eagles radio both, Merrill Reese, for their continued commitment to the organization.
In addition to the golf tournament, there was a silent auction that included items like an autographed Quick and Reese football, a Jacoby & Co. diamond necklace, a Super Bowl LIX Sunday golf bag, and a PGA Championship swag bag.
“We try to mix it up a little bit with some of the prizes and the people,” Quick said. “I try to bring in a few different celebrities each year. You have the sizzle, like the Jason Kelces of the world, the Brian Westbrooks.
“But, then this year Rodney McLeod comes out for us, James Bradberry, just trying to bring some different people just to keep it fresh. And I don’t know what we’re going to do for an encore because I’m running out of ideas.”
