David Feherty Highlights Kelly Tilghman’s First Annual Mentor Cup

When Gene Weldon, a revered Myrtle Beach area PGA professional, passed away in January of 2017, Kelly Tilghman vowed to create an event his honor.

Leaning on the friendships she made as a golf industry star over the previous two decades, Tilghman, one of the many people Weldon mentored, delivered on her promise October 27.

The first annual Mentor Cup was played that Saturday morning at Tidewater Golf Club, attracting a field of 120 golfers, and the event was capped off by a side-splitting performance by David Feherty, golf’s legendary funnyman, at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.

The golf tournament featured a unique format as 60 kids were paired with 60 adults, providing a mentor-mentee component, and each nine featured a different format of play. The front nine was captain’s choice while players played modified alternate shot on the back at Tidewater, one of the Grand Strand’s most scenic courses.

With eight holes that play along either Cherry Grove Inlet or the Intracoastal Waterway, Tidewater showcased the best Myrtle Beach golf has to offer to a field of players that included former NFL star Sterling Sharpe.

The Mentor Cup was created to raise money for Gene’s Dream, a charity Tilghman helped establish in Weldon’s honor to improve the lives of kids through the game of golf.

A long-time friend of Tilghman’s, Feherty’s performance was one to remember. The Golf Channel star performed a 2-hour stand-up routine, keeping an audience of 1,200 laughing with stories from his many adventures on and off the course.

Feherty regaled the crowd with stories from his childhood growing up in Ireland, life on the European Tour, and how Tiger Woods can make an announcer look foolish.

The Irishman’s performance provided a memorable finale to an event with a bright future.

For more information, go to GenesDream.com or MentorCup.com.