2025 Els For Autism Pro-Am Raises $830,000
The winds were blowing on Monday March 17, adding a test of nature to the already difficult game of golf, but the breeze couldn’t temper the enthusiasm for the large group of golfers who were ready to tee it up at Old Palm Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. This wasn’t just any round—it was the 17th Els For Autism Pro-Am.
The event, created by star pro golfer Ernie Els, his wife, Liezl Els and Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Cigar Aficionado, raises money for the Els Center of Excellence, a state-of-the-art education and information center in Jupiter, Florida, that helps autistic children and their families.
Each team was led by a professional golfer. The field included Els, who has won four major championships (two U.S. Opens and two Open Championships; the legendary Gary Player, who won nine majors and is one of only five men to have won the career grand slam in golf; Nick Price (three majors); Retief Goosen (two majors); Darren Clarke, who won the 2011 British Open; two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer; Camilo Villegas, K.J. Choi and many more.
The event raised $830,000 for the charity.
The team from Jackson Family Wines won the day, shooting 23 under par for a net score of 49. This grouping of golfers consisted of Jackson chief executive officer Rick Tigner, and sales managers J.J. McCabe and Zach White. Their pro was Jim Thorpe, who had 21 wins on the PGA and Champions Tours.
Second place went to the team from Viña Concha y Toro, consisting of Sebastian Lopez, Ray Stoughton Bonterra and Chip Stevens, with pro golfer Marco Dawson. They shot 50, 22 under par.
In third place was Deutsch Family Wine and Spirits, led by chairman Bill Deutsch. ing him was Joseph Bernstein, chairman of Friends Beverage Group, and Patrick O’Shaughnessy. Their pro was four-time major winner Ernie Els, the host of the event, and they shot 20 under par.
The event featured cigar and spirits stations spaced around the golf course. The cigar sponsors were Altadis U.S.A., with Rafael Nodal as one of the people at the booth; E.P. Carrillo Cigars; La Flor Dominicana, with owners Litto Gomez and Ines Gomez in attendance; My Father Cigars, makers of the Cigar of the Year; and Rocky Patel Cigars. Golf is also a thirsty business, so Bacardi, Beam Suntory and Jackson Family Wines provided stations with refreshing libations throughout the day.
At the pairings dinner, which took place Sunday night, cigars were provided by Altadis U.S.A. Inc., Oliva Cigar Co., Padrón Cigars and Rocky Patel.
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