Locals turn out for hometown hero’s annual fundraiser
Gilroy – The Jeff Garcia Invitational charity golf tournament ended up being just the type of event its namesake wanted it to be.
“This is more on the style of the good old boys,” said a grinning Garcia after a Saturday of golf and good times at Gilroy Golf Course. “It’s about good friends getting out and playing a round of golf.”
Garcia was pleased with this year’s event, a more scaled-down version of tournaments past, which he said “allowed some of the locals to get more involved.”
On Saturday, the hometown hero teed it up with friends and about 100 community members in the six-man scramble at Gilroy GC, all to raise money for the Gilroy High and Gavilan football teams, two programs that Garcia credited with helping him reach his own success as a football player.
“(They) helped me get to where I am today,” Garcia said before the start of the tournament as he addressed lines of golf carts filled with participants ready to start play.
After the scramble, the participants enjoyed a chicken and tri-tip steak barbecue and live auction, the highlight item of which was a black and white drawing of Jeff Garcia in a Detroit Lions uniform done by Morgan Hill artist Jeff Dennis. The framed artwork went for $350. Other items included a football signed by the Detroit Lions, an authentic Lions helmet signed by Garcia, a mini 49ers helmet signed by Steve Young and a signed Joe Montana photo.
As training camp nears for Garcia and the Lions, the quarterback said he’s been working hard in his off-season training and at mini-camps.
“I’m coming back in to my comfort zone with having the (former) 49ers coaches there,” Garcia said.
And what about the much-anticipated duel for the starting quarterback job?
“It’s Joey Harrington’s job to lose,” Garcia said. “But I’m going to be right there nipping on his heels.”
Should Harrington be forced out of that starting spot for whatever reason, Garcia said he’ll be right there waiting to take over – hopefully, for the rest of the season.
“I don’t plan on giving (the starting job) back,” he said.
In addition to the golf tournament, Garcia held his Fundamentals of Football camp at GHS on Friday. Garcia and several local coaches offered instruction to dozens of young attendees. Morgan Hill native and 49er linebacker Jeff Ulbrich also made a special trip down to the Garlic City to help out at the clinic.
“The kids’ camp was awesome,” Garcia said. “It gave them a chance to be around some quality coaches.”
