Ben Deutsch has traveled the world, met with hundreds of corporate leaders and as a Coca-Cola Company executive represents one of the most valued brands in the world. The highlight, however, came on Monday, June 20, 2016, at Congressional Country Club, as he took to the golf course with a unique collection of teammates to participate in the 2016 BrightspotPro-Am.
“I haven’t stopped talking about Monday. I’ve told everyone that it was literally one of the best days of my life – inspired and humbled by playing with a decorated veteran, Special Olympian and First Tee graduate,” Deutsch said.
In its fifth year as the title sponsor of the Brightspot Pro-Am at the Quicken Loans National, the Reston-based digital company once again brought together a collection of talented golfers from Special Olympics, The First Tee and Feherty’s Troops First Foundation. These golfers were paired with a Brightspot partner and a PGA TOUR professional to comprise the fivesomes that competed in the afternoon’s tournament. Coming from different walks of life and with many having overcome considerable odds, these golfers inspired each other with their perseverance and abilities.
For the past five years, the Brightspot Pro-Am has set an example about the values of opportunity and inclusion. Uniting wounded service members, individuals with intellectual disabilities, and teenage golfers and providing them with an outlet to showcase their remarkable talents, Brightspot has created an annual event that highlights individuals that are too often overlooked.
Beyond providing a special opportunity, the Brightspot Pro-Am also showcases top-level talent. Corporal Chad Pfeifer, a 3-time Warrior Open champion has played in the past four Monday tournaments. Chad has been joined on multiple occasions by an equally decorated Special Olympics golfer, Scott Rohrer, who won gold at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in record-setting fashion. And, throughout the years, countless numbers of participants from The First Tee have gone on to compete at the collegiate level, including Annika Clark who placed 7th at the 2017 Big 12 Women’s Championship as a sophomore at TCU.
With the goal of creating lasting and meaningful relationships among its participants, the Brightspot Pro-Am has evolved into far more than a one-day golf tournament. Following Monday’s tournament, participants explore different career opportunities in web-based fields, tour the museums and monuments around D.C., compete in an additional team-golf tournament, attend the first round of the Quicken Loans National, and wrap up the week with a celebratory banquet at Top Golf.