Golfing for a cause at Peter Zornes Memorial

COLFAX - The 16th annual Peter Zornes Memorial Golf Tournament will be held at the Colfax Golf Course this Saturday, July 13, starting at 10 a.m.

Golfers of all experience levels are welcome to participate in the 18-hole scramble. Following the tournament, there will be a dinner announcing the winners and awarding prizes, along with a silent auction. Families are encouraged to come and those not wishing to play golf can go to the dinner for a donation to the Peter A Zornes Memorial Neuroscience Scholarship.

There will also be a $50,000 cash shoot-out where five super-ticket holders' names will be drawn for a chance to take one shot from 165 yards out to try for the cash prize.

The annual tournament began in 2008 to raise money for the scholarship at Washington State University, where Zornes graduated in 2003 with a degree in Neuroscience.

Zornes was raised in Oakesdale where he excelled in music, sports and academics, graduating in 1999 as class valedictorian. He graduated cum laude from WSU in 2003. He took a position as a research associate in asthma and allergy at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center where he worked for 18 months.

He then returned to Whitman County where he was to begin a research position with a newly formed biotech firm. Unfortunately, he was killed three weeks prior to the start of the job at the age of 25.

The golf tournament is the main fundraiser for the scholarship given to juniors or seniors who are declared neuroscience majors at WSU. To date, there have been 23 recipients of the scholarship who have gone on to become doctors, veterinarians, medical researchers, hospital administrators and program coordinators in hospital systems across the country.

This year's tournament is dedicated to the memory of Peter's sister, Joy Zornes, who recently died unexpectedly.

"Peter's little sister was such an integral part of this project to help her brother when he couldn't continue to accomplish all he'd hoped for," Peter and Joy Zornes' mother Kathy Zornes said. "This year's event was planned and launched with her vital input and tireless sense of enthusiasm before her unexpected passing."

Golfers will start signin in at 9 a.m. to purchase mulligans, strings, contest tickets and get hole assignments. Last-minute registrations are welcome.

After a meeting by the clubhouse, there will be a shot-gun style start to the scramble.

Kathy Zornes said the tournament has become a traditional and unique event for many people.

"Golfers come from several states to participate and enjoy the family friendly atmosphere, fellowship, fun remembering Pete, or getting to 'know' him while helping a great cause – and then they come back and bring new friends who quickly become part of the tradition," Zornes said. "These people are from various backgrounds, many knew Peter, as friends, or as teachers and colleagues, many are musicians, scientists, educators, farmers, and everything else because Peter was interested and part of their lives and had so many interests and accomplishments."

To register for the tournament, become a sponsor or for more information go to peterzornesmemorialgolftournament.com or contact Kathy Zornes at or kathyzornes@oakesdale.net.