Remembering Zahra

Champions Tour veteran Mike Goodes has pledged his support to help build a park in memory of slain Hickory, N.C., girl Zahra Baker.
Grace Dawson Beatty

June 11, 2011

By Phil Stambaugh and Rob Goodman, PGA TOUR Staff

HICKORY, N.C.—North Carolina native Mike Goodes was all smiles after his first round at the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn presented by Kia Motors. Those smiles had as much to do with a good cause off the course as they did with his opening, 8-under-par 64.

Goodes made 10 birdies in his first round, including six consecutive on the front nine that led to an 8-under 28 on that side, the all-time nine-hole record at the Rock Barn Golf & Spa event. However, unlike other Champions Tour events, Goodes’ birdies, as well as those made by his fellow professionals, mean a whole lot more this week than just adding to the red numbers on a scoreboard. Every birdie Champions Tour professionals make will contribute a little more money toward turning a local tragedy into a positive for Hickory-area children.

Shortly after the 2010 Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn, a shocking story developed in Catawba County and the Greater Hickory area. Two-time cancer survivor Zahra Baker, a 10-year-old Australian girl, who had moved to Hickory with her Australian father and her stepmother, a native of the Hickory area, was murdered.

The little girl with the big smile had endured two bouts of cancer, which led to amputation of one leg and double cochlear ear implants resulting from radiation. By all accounts, she was a resilient girl who didn’t let these setbacks hinder her tomboy lifestyle and zest for living.

The week after the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn last October, Baker was reported missing from her home. Shortly afterward, her law enforcement officials found her dismembered body in multiple locations. Eventually, police charged her stepmother, Elisa Baker, also known as Elise Young, with the murder.

While no person, act or gesture can ever bring back the 10-year-old girl, the Greater Hickory community has come together with a goal of turning a horrible situation into something that will produce a long-lasting benefit.
The Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn is certainly doing its part to help with this effort.

The Kiwanis Clubs in Catawba County, including the Kiwanis Clubs of Newton, Western Catawba and Hickory, and the Catawba County Golden K Club, have partnered to raise money for an all-children playground in Hickory in memory of Zahra Baker by asking fans and local businesses to pledge money for each birdie a this week’s Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn event.

Through its partnership with the Kiwanis Clubs, the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn is helping build a playground in Baker’s memory through the “Birdies for Zahra” program. Through the first eight years of the event, Champions Tour professionals have averaged approximately 900 birdies each year during the three rounds of official tournament play.

“Kiwanis Clubs are known for their efforts to help improve the lifestyle of children,” 30-year Hickory Kiwanis member Tom Warren said. “So all our money raised is directed to playgrounds, children’s projects and other things related to children. It’s time and money well spent; we put our money where our mouth is.

To help build the playground, contributors can pledge any amount of money for every birdie that Champions Tour professionals make during the three-day Greater Hickory Classic. The cost to build the playground will be $85,000.

“I’m definitely going to get involved in it in some way,” Goodes said. “I definitely will, and I’ll try to get some of the other players involved. It’s a sad, sad story, and hopefully they can get some good out of it.”

For more information about contributing to the “Birdies for Zahra” project,  please click here