In a unique blend of sports and health advocacy, the recent AdventHealth Championship in Kansas City, Missouri, offered more than just competitive golf. While professional golfers vied for the top spot, the event also served as a platform to promote cognitive wellness and community engagement.
The tournament, held at Blue Hills Country Club, featured 10 former PGA Tour winners and attracted significant attention from both golf enthusiasts and health advocates. Beyond the fairways, AdventHealth organized a “Champion Your Health” fair to encourage attendees to think proactively about their brain health.
Promoting cognitive wellness through community engagement
Health advocates at the event emphasized that maintaining brain health can be achieved through simple, daily habits and social interactions. Weston Elder of AdventHealth highlighted the importance of community outreach, suggesting activities like playing games or cards to keep the brain sharp.
“Just those small interactions, playing games, cards—we were talking about how Mahjong is really big right now. Those things keep your brain sharp,” Elder said. “It doesn’t have to be anything earth-shattering. One little piece every day makes a big difference.”
In addition to community outreach tips, AdventHealth promoted its “ThinkWell” brain health series. This program provides attendees with practical, actionable ideas to support cognitive fitness long after the tournament ends.
The thrilling conclusion of the AdventHealth Championship
The golf tournament itself delivered an exciting finish, with Yuto Sugiura of Japan emerging victorious. Sugiura, the 54-hole leader, birdied his last three holes to claim the win, with his girlfriend on the bag. The victory earned him a trophy presented by eight-time major champion Tom Watson and a winner’s check worth $180,000.
Austin Hitt tied the course record with a 12-under round of 60, climbing 18 spots on the leaderboard to finish solo second at 28-under par. Hitt’s impressive performance was the third time in his career he fired a course record.
Other notable performances included Harry Higgs, affectionately nicknamed the “Big Rig,” who finished tied for 62nd at 15-under. Higgs, a member at Blue Hills Country Club, praised the course conditions, stating, “I pay to play this golf course, so I like it a lot. It was in absolutely fantastic shape.”
Blades Brown, one of the biggest stars in the field, finished tied for 9th at 22-under. The 19-year-old, who will likely play on the PGA Tour next year, enjoyed his first visit to Kansas City and appreciated the unique environment.
Looking ahead to the UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Foundation Golf Tournament
The success of the AdventHealth Championship in Kansas City is set to inspire another significant event. The third annual UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Foundation Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, September 28, at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Lemont.
This fundraiser, held on three of Cog Hill’s four courses, is the foundation’s premier event of the year. Proceeds from the tournament support UChicago Medicine AdventHealth’s four hospitals—Bolingbrook, GlenOaks, Hinsdale, and La Grange—and help build facilities, acquire new technology, and develop treatments for illness and disease.
The tournament, a scramble format, begins with a shotgun start at noon, followed by a 5 p.m. dinner and program. More than 200 golfers participated in last year’s tournament, raising nearly $471,000 along with sponsors and donors.
