The first John Borrell Memorial Golf Tournament, honoring the long-time teaching professional who passed away earlier this year, will be played Monday, Oct. 5.
John R. Borrell, the first golf professional at Pitman Golf Course when the County of Gloucester purchased the property in 1995, died Nov. 2. The first John Borrell Memorial Golf Tournament, honoring the long-time teaching professional who passed away earlier this year, will be played Monday, Oct. 5 at Pitman Golf Course, where he learned to play and teach the game he loved.
Proceeds from the tournament benefit junior golf scholarships. Entry fee is $100 per golfer and includes all golf amenities and barbecue awards dinner at Bogey's. Dinner only is $50 per person. There will be a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m.
A Pitman High School graduate who excelled in golf and basketball, Borrell was a standout golfer at both Gloucester County College and Glassboro State College.
MORE: Golf pro John Borrell remembered as a great teacher
He launched his career with the PGA of America in 1977 at Inverrary C.C. in Florida, where his students included Jackie Gleason and Perry Como. He played in Como's tournament at Duke University annually and once recorded a $10,000 hole-in-one.
Also a top player, Borrell captured several PGA Florida sectional tournaments, captained the Squire Cup team in 1987, and played in several PGA tour events.
In late 1994, John returned to his roots and became the first professional/manager at PGC after Gloucester County purchased the course. He left Pitman in 1998 and became pro at Woodbury Country Club.
Borrell returned to South Florida in 2002 to become lead instructor for the PGA of America Golf Schools at the PGA Learning Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla. for seven years. Then, from 2008 to 2014, John was in three different locations in the Caribbean, including Dorado Beach Resort as Director of Instruction for the PGA Tour Academy, where he befriended Chi Chi Rodriguez..
With 36 years as a PGA professional, including life membership, Borrell's passions included teaching young golfers. And he gave thousands of lessons in South Jersey, South Florida, South America and the Caribbean.
Golfers playing in the four-player scramble must submit their entry no later than Sept. 21. The tournament is limited to 120 players. Make checks payable to John Borrell Memorial Golf Tournament and send to P.O. Box 251, Pitman, 08071.
The tournament is being co-chaired by Nancy Borrell, John's widow, and his son, Johnny. Entry forms are available in some local pro shops.
A brief memorial service will follow the tournament.
Bob Shryock may be reached at bshryock@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.
