STATE COLLEGE — Centre County Sports Hall of Fame is seeking a few more golf teams to enter its annual The Blue By You golf outing scheduled June 15 at the Penn State Blue Golf Course.
Additionally, this is the only tournament in Centre County to annually feature professional golfers, according to golf Chairman Keith Bierly.
In addition to the Hall also inducting more than 100 sports personalities into the Centre County Sports Hall of Fame, this golf event helps provide $18,000 in scholarship funds to 12 Centre County high school students toward their college commitment. The amount being awarded currently is triple to what was awarded four years ago, according to Bierly.
Last year, 80 different companies or individuals provided sponsorship funds toward the event, Bierly said.
The tournament began in 2016 with the birth of the Centre County Sports Hall Fame. At the time, it was held at the Nittany Country Club, a 9-hole course.
“(The size of the course) severely limited the number of players we could have attend,” Bierly explained, stating the event was moved to the Penn State Blue Golf Course four years ago, along with the event named to The Blue By You.
“Since then, our fundraising has tripled, and we now give $18,000 in scholarships as opposed to $6,000 in the early years,” Bierly said. The tournament is the Hall’s main fundraiser.
Bierly has attended more than 100 LPGA tournaments over the past 30 years and has made some friends who are professional golfers.
“Through them, or as a result of my attendance at tournaments, I make contact with individual players who I wish to invite to the tournament,” Bierly said.
This year’s golf outing will feature Gerina Mendoza, who took up golf at age 15 and rose to a ranking of 15th in the world. Mendoza has had 40 top ten finishes on the LPGA Tour, and has played on three Solheim Cup teams. Also playing in the event is LPGA rookie Melanie Green, who was Player of the Year in 2025 on the Epson Tour.
The public is invited to watch the tournament if they wish.
“Melanie will be hitting on the Par 3 No. 14 hole where a player can win $20,000,” Bierly said. “Gerina will be hitting drives on hole No. 6 where the public could also watch. Just park the car and walk over to the appropriate holes.”
Bierly said there are currently about 20 teams registered for the four person scramble event that begins at 9 a.m. with a 2 p.m. awards luncheon.
Last year, The Blue By You tournament sold out early with 25 teams — which is again this year’s maximum.
The entry fee is $125 per player, or $500 for a foursome. Each player will have the opportunity to win $20,000 cash on the Par 3, No. 14 hole with a Hole-In-One. Other on-course prizes are awarded for longest drive, longest putt, straightest drive and closest to the pin. Raffle prizes totaling several thousand dollars will also be available.
Sponsorship opportunities are available at levels of $100, $250, $500, $1,000, $2,500 and $4,000. Anyone interested in forming a team or sponsoring the event can send a check payable to the Centre County Sports Hall of Fame, P. O. Box 397, Centre Hall, PA 16828. Questions or comments regarding entry can be directed to Bierly at 814-404-0506 or at KeithBierly@yahoo.com.
Centre County Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization governed by a board of 15 volunteers.
