The Cleveland Browns Foundation hosted their 16th annual golf outing Friday in what has become the organization's longest running charity event.
A whopping 28 foursomes of corporate partners and Browns community supporters registered for the event and were paired with a Browns celebrity for a round of scramble golf at the gorgeous Barrington Country Club in Aurora.
All proceeds from the tournament support the Cleveland Browns Foundation education initiatives in Northeast Ohio.
Browns celebrity golfers included Hall of Famer Jim Brown, general manager Ray Farmer, longtime running back Kevin Mack, cornerback Joe Haden, linebackers Paul Kruger, Chris Kirksey, Craig Robertson, Armonty Bryant, Tank Carder and Barkevious Mingo, defensive linemen Phil Taylor, John Hughes and Billy Winn, quarterback Johnny Manziel, running back Isaiah Crowell, offensive linemen Joel Bitonio, John Greco and Mitchell Schwartz, wide receivers Taylor Gabriel and Travis Benjamin, tight ends Rob Housler and Gary Barnidge and long snapper Christian Yount.
Mike Pettine addressed the crowd in a light drizzle and joked, "I don't like getting my hair wet." Cleveland's second-year head coach grew up caddying at Doylestown Country Club in Pennsylvania and has fond memories on the course with his father.
Pettine didn't bust out his clubs Friday and likely won't for a while. The assistant coaches are busy running the offseason workouts in Berea.
"I don't want a staff of good golfers," Pettine joked.
Kruger and Manziel were lauded as the best golfers by their teammates. Both play regularly in the offseason. Phil Taylor was not.
"I'm just here to whack up some grass," said the 330-pound defensive lineman.
The Cleveland Browns Foundation auctioned off several silent bid items – golf- and football-related – to raise even more funds. Later in the afternoon, Browns team president Alec Scheiner handed out awards for top performers on the course.
It will be a busy summer for the Cleveland Browns Foundation, which is gearing up for the Adapted Football League – an outlet for disabled children to feel a part of the team and learn football from current Browns players. The Cleveland Browns Foundation also will award two deserving students with the Marion Motley scholarship.
Last year, proceeds from the golf outing helped buy 25,000 pairs of new shoes for the school year for kids in need. In 2014, the Cleveland Browns Foundation increased their total donation total by 170 percent.
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