‘Pat Scramble’ to raise money for scholarships

Published 9:24 am Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Submitted photo Golf carts are lined up before the start of the 2015 Pat Scramble golf outing at Juday Creek in Granger.

Submitted photo
Golf carts are lined up before the start of the 2015 Pat Scramble golf outing at Juday Creek in Granger.

Niles resident Patrick Curran was just 26 years old when he died from injuries caused when his motorcycle was struck by a car in 2010.

If there is a silver lining to that tragedy, it is that a memorial fund in Curran’s name has raised approximately $15,000 for scholarships for local students.

The majority of the funding for the memorial comes from a golf outing held annually in Michiana.

This year’s “Pat Scramble” is scheduled to take place at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 18 at Juday Creek Golf Course in Granger, Indiana.

Curran’s father, Jim, said the outing raises approximately $3,000 each year. This will be the sixth year for the event.

He said they had record participation in 2015 with around 25 teams and 100 golfers.

“It is overwhelming to see the support that our community gives,” he said. “For us, that hurting feeling never goes away, so the golf outing is an emotional time.

It is great to see our friends, Patrick’s friends and friends from the community getting together.”

Patrick graduated from Brandywine High School in 2002 and was active in school activities and athletics.

The memorial fund was established to provide scholarships to Brandywine and Niles graduates who intend to continue their education after high school. Scholarship recipients are selected by their interest in the areas of career, technical or vocational education.

Brandywine High’s Blake Learner and Niles High’s Nathan Stanton were scholarship recipients in 2015.

Sponsors of the Pat Scramble are recognized by a large banner, which is displayed at the registration table, starting point, turn, ending point, and then moved to the dinner location afterwards (unless requested to remain anonymous).

The sponsorship banner is also displayed on the patcurranmemorialfund.com website.

People or organizations can sponsor a hole for $100 and the event for $500. Sponsor name and donation is due by June 10.

The cost for playing is $65.

For more information, or to register or donate, visit the memorial website.