REGISTER HERE!

NEWARK, Del. -- Playing spots and sponsorships are now available for the fourth annual Mary Ann Hitchens Golf & Tennis Classic, which benefits University of Delaware women’s athletics.

The event, which will be held Sept. 21 at Deerfield Golf & Tennis Club in Newark, is presented by Michael J. Axe, M.D. of First State Orthopaedics and his children and sponsored by Whiting-Turner Construction, the University of Delaware Bookstore, the Courtyard Newark at the University of Delaware, Bancroft Construction, the National 5 & 10, and Nason Construction.

The event has sold out each of the last two years. Proceeds will go to the “Mary Ann Hitchens Endowment for Women’s Athletics,” an account that generates additional supplemental operating funds for all UD women’s athletics programs.

Registration will begin at 11 a.m. with the golf tournament (scramble format) set for 12 noon and the tennis tournament to start at 2 p.m. A reception and silent auction will be begin at 5 p.m.

Individual golf and tennis and group sponsorships as well as tickets to the reception/silent auction are available by contacting University of Delaware Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator Sue Groff by phone at 302-831-3666 or by email at groff@udel.edu. Registration forms are also available by logging on to the UD Athletics website at www.bluehens.com/sportsinfo/tickets/mahgolftennisinfo.html

Individual golf sponsorships, which include a playing spot, reception ticket, lunch, and a gift bag are $175 while tennis sponsorships, which include a playing spot, reception ticket, lunch, gift bag, and the opportunity to play with members of the UD tennis team, are $100. Group sponsorships start at $1,000. Tickets to the reception and silent auction only are $65.

Proceeds from the tournament will benefit University of Delaware women’s athletics teams. The event will be hosted by Hitchens and Groff along with current UD head coaches Tina Martin (basketball), Carol Miller (field hockey), Kim Ciarrocca (lacrosse), Laura Slice (rowing), Scott Grzenda (soccer), B.J. Ferguson (softball), John Hayman (swimming), Laura Travis (tennis), Bonnie Kenny (volleyball), Wendy McFarlane (track & field), and Jim Fischer (cross country).

Hitchens, who retired in 2006 after 37 years of service to intercollegiate athletics at UD as a nationally-recognized field hockey and basketball coach and administrator, is a member of the UD Athletics Hall of Fame and the Delaware Sports Museum and Sports Hall of Fame.