The "A Diamond On The Course" Story

Miss In Gee Chun who won the U.S. Woman's Open in Lancaster, PA.

It was an ordinary day.  Just read the news that South Korea's In Gee Chun, the winner of the U.S. Women's Open in golf which was held this past July at the nearby Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, granted a request from Jody Kegel, on behalf of the Swim and Swing for Cancer fundraiser in Lancaster County.  The request was for for a single autographed golf flag to be auctioned to help with the cancer fundraiser that is through the Lancaster General Health Foundation, but when the package arrived Jody found three autographed flags, a signed photograph of Miss Chun and a donation of $10,000.  Now that's a class act!  Jody Kegel said, "My body trembled and I cried.  I kept counting zeroes.  I was speechless."  The 21 year-old Miss Chun sent a note saying that it was a wonderful experience coming to Lancaster and feel part of the community during the open an the real champions are the cancer patients.  Miss Chun's coach called the gift a small donation and that Chun wished she could have done more.  Miss Chun won $810,000 in the Open and became the largest sponsor of this year's Swim and Swing for Cancer fundraiser.  The program recognized it by making a diamond sponsor category and identifying Miss Chun as "a diamond on the course."  Miss Chun grew up poor in South Korea which makes her donation something very special.  Jody Kegel reported that the first flag signed by Miss Chun will remain with the Country Club where it will probably be placed with the photograph while the second flag sold for several hundred dollars and the third flag will probably be auctioned off at a later date.  This year's fundraiser topped the $38,000 raised late year, mainly because of the doantion from In Gee Chun.  What an amazing roll model Miss Chun has become in both the golf community and the community of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.