Ricky Barnes Collects $10,000 for Charity at The Travelers Championship

Travelers Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Andy Bessette (left), Ricky Barnes (center) and Travelers Championship Tournament Director Nathan Grube (right)

June 20, 2012

CROMWELL, Conn.,-- 22 of 105 players participating in a practice round Tuesday for the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands landed a ball on The Umbrella at 15 ½, the 40-foot wide, 15-foot long floating green shaped like the Travelers red umbrella logo.

Travelers will donate $10,000 to the Ricky Barnes Foundation on behalf of Ricky Barnes, who recorded the closest shot to the pin at 2 feet, eight inches. Ricky and his wife, Suzanne, established the Ricky Barnes Foundation to benefit youth programs related to health, sports and fitness. They established the foundation to support charities in the San Joaquin County where they both grew up.

“All the thanks goes to Travelers for hosting us at a great tournament and doing great charity events like this,” said Barnes. “After hearing the news that I won, I told everyone that I should have started my Foundation earlier. I just started it in February with my wife so this check will go to a great cause.”

Barnes joins previous winners Chad Campbell and Justin Rose.

The Travelers Championship is the PGA TOUR's only early summer stop in the Northeast and is held June 21 – 24, 2012, at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. A complete schedule of tournament events and ticket information is available at TravelersChampionship.com.