Gray skies and mid-50 degree temperatures did not stop members of the legal community from supporting Jacksonville Area Legal Aid on Nov. 15 at the inaugural Pajcic & Pajcic Backyard Golf Tournament at the Riverside home of Steve Pajcic.
Pajcic set up a nine-hole practice golf course on the grounds of his home with a $100-per-player entry fee, and $25 for government and nonprofit employees, to benefit JALA.
About 30 people visited the course and the Delta Settlements team of Michael Upchurch, Erin Martin, Chris Bua and Bill Danheim carded the best score with a 3-under-par 32.
"It was a great event. We started around noon and had people playing until just after dark with some lights. We plan to continue the fundraiser as long as people have fun and it keeps raising money for JALA," said Pajcic.
The Pajcic & Pajcic firm pledged to match $100 for each round played. About $10,000 was the estimated total raised.
The winning team was rewarded with a foursome at The Players Stadium Course with carts and caddies.
"It's an interesting course. The wind was tough on No. 6," said Michael Pajcic.
The hole was the course's "Island Green," an ode to the famed 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, and required players to tee off from a deck elevated above the green that was surrounded by water.
The Pajcics have held backyard golf events for 15 years.
They normally are part of birthday celebrations and Christmas, but the fundraiser was the first to benefit JALA.
"We started the tournaments for Michael (Pajcic) and his friends, and we still hold them. This was a great way to raise some money for legal aid," said Steve Pajcic.
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