Patrick Cover and Thomas Walsh organized an Oct. 13 golf tournament to help raise money for charity – and pulled in about $48,000.

The two pulled together their golf buddies and families and asked for donations, big and small. And they’ve been doing it for years now.

The idea for the tournament, called the Dormie Cup, began in 2010, when Patrick decided he wanted to create an annual event to benefit his community and junior golfers who may otherwise not have the opportunity to play the sport. He enlisted Thomas to help him figure out the logistics of the tournament, and to also choose a charity that would benefit from the proceeds.

They decided to ask 24 junior golfers from the Carolinas to commit to raising $2,000 apiece to play in a two-man team-style competition. The Dormie Cup, named for the club in Pinehurst where it’s played, was born.

Money raised in the 2012 Cup was split between professional golfer Jack Nicklaus’ Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, The First Tee Program, and the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), said Beth Dockter of the AJGA.

“The amount contributed to the (Nicklaus Children’s Health Care) Foundation will be used to provide a grant to CureSearch for children’s cancer to support the development of clinical trials for pediatric cancer research,” said Patty McDonald, president and CEO of the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation.

“We take our lives for granted and we do not realize how lucky we are,” said Patrick, now a junior at Hough High and who raised $6,000 this year.

Each year before the tournament, Patrick and Thomas get together to discuss possible beneficiaries for the Dormie. The tournament, always held in the fall, raised money for the Wounded Warriors project last year. In 2010, it raised $10,085 for the AJGA, a nonprofit dedicated to the development of young men and women who want to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. Portions of proceeds are given to The First Tee Program every year, an organization that promotes youth development through golf.

“The dedication which Patrick and Thomas have given to make the Dormie Cup the success it has become is amazing,” McDonald said. “We are confident that under their continued leadership the event will continue to grow each year.”

This year’s participants sported Dormie Cup hats and shirts, and received tournament trophies. Also given at the competition is the Charles G. McCartney Award, presented to a junior golfer who demonstrates successful fundraising, sportsmanship and a love for golf. The award is named after Thomas’ great uncle, “Chuck,” who received the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his wounds during the Battle of the Bulge.

“When you come together for a good cause like this, it really creates lifelong friendships and memories,” Patrick said. “Joining forces with all of my friends and raising money for these charities feels like the biggest golf accomplishment I have ever achieved.”