Stater Bros. Charities' Largest Charity Event of the Year to Play Host to Pro Golfers, Celebrities and Medal of Honor Recipients

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The 3rd Annual Stater Bros. Charities Dave Stockton Heroes Challenge has made a name for itself as one of the premier charity golf tournaments in Southern California.  The Tournament Invitational will play host to 11 golf professionals, 6 Medal of Honor Recipients, Celebrities and will be covered by the golf community's favorite television network, The Golf Channel. The real spotlight though will be on the charitable giving that happens after the tournament concludes and the awards have been handed out.

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Two years ago, Stater Bros. Supermarket's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jack H. Brown partnered with long-time friend and PGA Champions Tour Pro Dave Stockton to launch one of the largest charity golf tournaments in the region.  This year, the legacy continues with the "Heroes Challenge" taking place on Monday, March 1, 2010 at the prestigious Victoria Club in Riverside, California and will include a lineup that reaches far beyond the realm of Southern California.  

The Heroes Challenge will be limited to 132 players who will compete for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place and include ten of Stockton's PGA Tour friends including but not limited to:

Paul Azinger – Azinger captained the 2008 Victorious Ryder Cup Team at Valhalla Golf Club.  He has had 12 PGA Tour Victories including the 1993 PGA Championship.  In January, Azinger started his inaugural year on the Champions Tour after turning 50.

Donna Caponi-Byrnes – In January 2010 Byrnes was presented the 1st Lady in Golf award from PGA America.  She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and is a 24-time winner on the LPGA Tour which includes four major championships: 1969 & 1970 U.S. Women's Open and the 1979 & 1981 LPGA Championships.  She is currently working as a color-analyst for The Golf Channel.

John Cook – Cook took home two wins on the Champions Tour in 2009 including the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.  Cook has over 11 PGA Tour Victories, including twice winning the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Gary McCord – McCord was on the PGA Tour from 1974 to 1998 with two dozen top ten finishes and has been the official Golf Analyst for CBS Sports since 1986.

Brown and Stockton have also invited six Medal of Honor Recipients to participate in the weekend of events which will conclude with a visit to Colton High School to speak to 1,100 ROTC Cadets from the Inland region on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 9 a.m.  

About Dave Stockton, Honorary Tournament Chairman:  Stockton's resume in golf makes him one of the most accomplished PGA Golf Professionals.  Dave Stockton turned professional in 1964 and joined the PGA Champions Tour after serving as Captain for the victorious Ryder Cup team in 1991 at Kiawah Island.  He accrued 14 Champions Tour victories, including the U.S. Senior Open and twice winning the Ford Senior Players Championship. Stockton also claims 11 PGA Tour victories (winning the PGA Championship in both 1970 & 1976). He became well known in the 1970's and 80's for doing up to 90 corporate outings a year and was crowned "King of Corporate Outings" as a result.    In 2008, Stockton served as the Assistant Captain to another victorious Ryder Cup team at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.  Dave has recently become a highly sought after short game instructor to the PGA, Champions Tour, and LPGA Tour along with his sons David Jr.  and Ron.  Players in their stable this year include Phil Mickelson, J.B. Holmes, Billy Mayfair, Morgan Pressel, Yani Tseng,  Mikaela Parmlid and Fred Funk.

About Stater Bros. Charities: In 2008, Stater Bros. established Stater Bros. Charities, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  The purpose of Stater Bros. Charities is to give back to the communities Stater Bros. Markets is privileged to serve.  Since its creation two years ago, Stater Bros. Charities has provided funding to countless local organizations and causes that benefit hunger relief, children's welfare, education for both youth and adults, services for the elderly and care for our Nation's Veterans.  

SOURCE Stater Bros. Charities