Golf legends Jay Haas, Bob Goalby being honored at District 201 fundraiser

Professional golfer Jay Haas will join his uncle, 1968 Masters champ Bob Goalby as part of the District 201’s “Turf for the Teams” fundraiser at 6 p.m. April 25 at St. Clair Country Club in Belleville.

Both Haas and Goalby attended Belleville Township High School and Haas, a Belleville West graduate who still plays on the PGA Champions Tour, has more than $16 million in career earnings. Haas has nine PGA Tour victories and 16 wins on the PGA Champions circuit.

Belleville West Athletic Director Lee Meyer said once word got out about the rare Haas appearance, the event was a complete sellout. More than 300 people purchased tickets to the dinner at $100 each.

“We’re maxed out,” Meyer said. “We didn’t know it would sell out before it’s even been publicized. It’s just been networking and people have come out of the woodwork, which is a great thing.”

The dinner will include a silent auction with the featured items a Masters flag and autographed by all the living Masters champions. People not attending the dinner will also have an opportunity to bid on the autographed Masters flag by calling Lee Meyer at 618-222-7665.

Also being honored that night are some late 1960s and early 1970s Belleville West golf teams coached by Dave Shannahan. The West golfers won state titles in 1968-69, 1970-71 and 1972-73 and finished second in 1969-70.

Proceeds go to the turf field projects at Belleville East and Belleville West High Schools.

This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 1:21 PM with the headline "Golf legends Jay Haas, Bob Goalby being honored at District 201 fundraiser."