Highlights
2005 Christel House Open World Championship

View Event Photos Here

On September 13th, four amateur golfers from Mexico City won the second annual Christel House Open World Championship, presented by OneAmerica. 

Pedro Gonzalez de la Vega, Miguel Maurer, Javier Tellez and Carlos Valero won the June 13, 2005 Christel House Open Mexico tournament held at Club de golf Bosque Real in Mexico City.

The two day World Championship was held at the Brickyard Crossing golf course, set inside and adjacent to the world famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Twenty (20) teams - winners of June "Tier One" tournaments held on five continents - competed for the world title.

Registration and welcoming reception, sponsored by OneAmerica, was held the evening before the tournament at the Hyatt Regency at the State Capitol where teams were provided complimentary hotel accommodations.  Each player received a gift bag, sponsored by JP Morgan Private Bank, filled with takeaway items.

Arriving at the Brickyard Crossing course early Monday morning via shuttle transportation from downtown, sponsored by Lilly, players enjoyed a continental breakfast on the terrace sponsored by Clarian Health Partners.  On a beautiful morning with an early sun and light dew, players sharpened their skills by warming up on the putting green, sponsored by Anthem, and on the driving range, sponsored by Northern Trust Company.

Day One of the tournament got underway on the driving range with a welcome from Christel DeHaan to all of the participants.  She introduced Jim Freeman, Vice President for Community Affairs for OneAmerica, who thanked everyone for making the trip and emphasized the importance of the charitable work of Christel House.

LPGA players Laura Diaz and Wendy Ward, special hosts of the Christel House Open, were on hand to meet everyone that morning.  They had just come off of a big win the day before as members of the U.S. team at The Solheim Cup international tournament, which was held in the city the prior week.

Mike DiMaria, Director of Hub Operations in Indianapolis for FedEx Express, introduced Diaz and Ward to participants to begin an instructional clinic (sponsored by FedEx Express).

After the clinic, DiMaria presented Christel DeHaan with a FedEx Express shipment box containing golf balls for the ceremonial first tee-off.  These balls were the first teed-off in Bangalore, India and the last holed at the Makaha Resort and Golf Club in Hawaii on the June 13th same-day Tier One tournaments.  FedEx Express had picked those balls up for shipment at those sites – 20 times zones apart on the same day – and shipped them to Indianapolis for the World Championship first tee-off.

Jim Freeman from OneAmerica and Patti Mahl from FedEx Express joined Diaz and Ward for a simultaneous first tee-off to officially open the 2005 World Championship.

After a brief group photo, teams assembled at the golf carts, sponsored by Interval International.  Teams rolled out to the course to the sounds of bagpipe salute – a Brickyard Crossing tradition.  Competition was underway.

A number of volunteers from Tier One site hosts, sponsor companies, and the local community were on hand – dressed in their logo’d golf shirts sponsored by Northwest Airlines.  In fact, each competing team was provided an official scorer volunteer, trained by event management company Elcot Golf.

A beautiful day it was, but it was unusually warm (mid 80’s) for mid-September in Indianapolis.  The beverage carts, sponsored by Morgan Stanley, were sought out and appreciated by all.

Laura Diaz and Wendy Ward were on the course during play, each stationed at separate par 3 holes to play with each team as they came through, holes sponsored by RCI and FedEx Express respectively.  Excited to play a hole with LPGA professionals, many competitors relished the chance to see if they could hit a better shot than a pro. 

After an exciting first day of competition, the Hawaiian team held a narrow lead over a tight field of teams.  Players returned their hotels to recuperate before returning to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that evening for festivities.  Through the generosity of Tony George, CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, participants were able to receive special access to the world’s most famous motor sports facility.

A private cocktail reception for sponsors and VIP guests, sponsored by RCI, was held in a Gasoline Alley suite, with Laura Diaz, Wendy Ward and Christel DeHaan.  Out on the track, tournament players and their guests enjoyed special behind-the-scenes tours of the track, sponsored by Lilly, including a trip around the famous 2.5 mile oval.  Photographers snapped once-in-a-lifetime moments as players knelt to kiss the famous yard of bricks on the track, pose with cars, and stand on the winner’s platform.

As the sun began to set, special track lighting came on and participants were ushered upstairs for the Champions Dinner, sponsored by OneAmerica.  Held in the Media Center three stories above the straightaway and pit row at the track, it is one of the most amazing views of the track.

Overhead, literally hundreds of television monitors displayed an electronic leader board with Day One results, provided by LinxTracker, and rolling slides for each event-wide sponsor’s logo.

Christel House CFO Steve Miller welcomed everyone, thanked all of the event-wide sponsors, and introduced Jim Freeman, Vice President for Community Affairs at OneAmerica.  Freeman explained to the crowd that the company was proud to support the Open and Christel House, where 100% of proceeds directly benefit the children, changing lives in the process.

As dinner began, a special video was shown about the 2005 Christel House Open, which included information on all event-wide sponsors and even clips from the morning’s golf competition.  Around the room, cheers in various languages broke out as they watched their teams on the course.

Laura Diaz and Wendy Ward came to the podium after dinner to share a few insights on life on the LPGA tour and its strong support of charitable causes.  They congratulated Christel House in changing the lives of some of the world’s most impoverished children.

Christel DeHaan, clearly moved by the heartfelt remarks of Diaz and Ward, spoke to the audience about what life is really like for the children of Christel House and how their involvement and support really makes a difference.

Day Two of the Championship got underway with a number of teams still in contention for the title win.  An equally beautiful day greeted players as they rushed out to the course for the final round.  All the ceremonies and excitement of Day One had passed.  Now it was about winning the Championship.

By early afternoon, players returned to the club house for the Awards Luncheon, sponsored by St. Vincent Children’s Hospital.  To much excitement, Christel DeHaan and Jim Freeman from OneAmerica announced the results and presented trophies to all of the winners.  With a strong showing by the Mexico City team on Day 2, they had pushed ahead to win the Championship.  To cheers and Mexican flags waving, the 2005 Christel House Open World Championship winners raised their trophies skyward. 

Final 2005 World Championship Results:

This is the second year in a row that this same Virginia team had the best gross score for the Christel House Open World Championship.  That is an incredible achievement.