Coronavirus concerns cancel UNC REX Hospital’s biggest fundraiser — a golf tournament
While the PGA Tour plans to start play again in June, the readjustment of its scheduling — including that of the Korn Ferry Tour — has led to the cancellation of the 2020 Rex Hospital Open.
The Rex Hospital Open was scheduled May 28-31 at The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation. But the Korn Ferry Tour announced Thursday it is planning to resume its schedule June 8-14 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
UNC REX Healthcare, the title sponsor of the tournament, supported the decision by the PGA Tour. Many staff members from UNC REX have been among the 400 volunteers involved in running the event each year — staff now needed in dealing with the pandemic.
“The safety of our co-workers, volunteers, spectators, sponsors and community is paramount,” Ernie Bovio, president of UNC REX, said in a statement. “The REX Healthcare Foundation will miss proceeds from this year’s event, but this is the right decision to make.”
The Rex Hospital Open is the largest annual fundraiser for the REX Healthcare Foundation.
“While it’s disappointing that the 2020 REX Hospital Open is canceled, this was a necessary precaution and we will shift our planning toward putting on a world class tournament for Raleigh to enjoy in 2021,” tournament chariman Brad King said in a statement.
The 2020 Rex Hospital Open was to offer a purse of $650,000. Sebastian Cappelen won last year’s event at Wakefield, holding off a challenge from Raleigh’s Grayson Murray, who had a final-round 61.
This story was originally published April 16, 2020 at 10:11 AM with the headline "Coronavirus concerns cancel UNC REX Hospital’s biggest fundraiser — a golf tournament."
