CROMWELL, Conn. — The Vacationers Championship Movie star Professional-Am teed off at TPC River Highlands on Wednesday with out a acquainted face, and it was not misplaced on anybody who knew Tim Wakefield.
Wakefield, the legendary Pink Sox pitcher and former NESN broadcaster, was a frequent attendee of the occasion and helped Vacationers in its charitable efforts all through the final decade.
“Tim was an exceptional pal of this event,” Andy Bessette, govt vp and chief administrative officer for Vacationers, instructed NESN.com exterior the clubhouse.
“After I first requested him if he would come and play within the Professional-Am, the reply was, ‘Completely, sure,’” Bessette mentioned. “Everytime you requested him to do something, he did it.”
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Given his influence, Vacationers needed to honor Wakefield, who died on the age of 57 in October 1, 2023.
There have been two white golf flags with the No. 49 in conventional Pink Sox font inside a navy blue coronary heart. It was the identical as the patches the Boston Pink Sox have worn this season. Vacationers additionally gave out ball markers with No. 49 on it.
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Bessette admitted he received choked up when he noticed it come collectively.
“You bear in mind Tim because the human being, and what he did,” Bessette mentioned. “A fantastic pal.”
Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Doug Flutie was noticed sporting a Wakefield jersey and hat, as properly.
Wakefield was well-known for his charitable and philanthropic contributions, together with the Jimmy Fund. Bessette recalled again to when he requested Wakefield if he want to play in a “Golf Fights Most cancers” occasion held at New Seabury on Cape Cod. Wakefield couldn’t have agreed quicker.
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“Everyone went loopy to have Tim Wakefield, the well-known knuckleballer,” Bessette mentioned. “And me, being a Boston fan from once I was a bit of, little child, it was like, ‘I can’t imagine it.’ I pinched myself that Tim Wakefield was serving to us.”
For the reason that Vacationers took over because the PGA Tour’s lone New England cease in 2007, it has raised $28 million to over 900 charities, Bessette mentioned.
“Tim was an enormous a part of that, a enormous half,” mentioned Bessette, who golfed with Wakefield some two months earlier than he died. “Nice man, nice human being and we will probably be without end grateful to he and his household.”
Wakefield performed 17 seasons with the Pink Sox earlier than he joined NESN as a broadcaster in 2012. He’s a member of the Pink Sox Corridor of Fame.
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