McDonald’s upcoming golf classic to benefit new foundation

McDonald’s Guam and Saipan owner/operator Jose Ayuyu Jr., executive assistant to the president Natalie Mable Ayuyu-Glenn, and golf charity tournament chair Ben Babauta poses with sponsors of the upcoming 2nd Annual McDonald’s Golf Classic at the fast-food giant’s flagship Gualo Rai location. (DONNA RIVERA)

Honoring family and the legacy of McDonald’s Guam and Saipan president and CEO Jose Ayuyu Sr., the 2nd Annual McDonald’s Golf Classic in December will be held to benefit the Jose and Ruri Ayuyu Foundation, as announced last Friday at the McDonald’s location in Gualo Rai.

During a press conference with McDonald’s owner/operator Jose Ayuyu Jr., executive assistant to the president Natalie Mable Ayuyu-Glenn, and golf charity tournament chair Ben Babauta, McDonald’s officially announced the start of registration for the 2nd Annual McDonald’s Golf Classic. The tournament is set for Dec. 3, 2022 at the Laolao Golf & Resort east course, but registration starts on Sept. 5, 2022 and will continue until Nov. 3, 2022. Early Registration will be at $130 per player and after Nov. 2, it will go up to $140.

The Top 3 winners from the championship flight to seniors will be rewarded with cash prizes and the individual who succeeds in hitting a hole-in-one in the designated holes will be up for big ticket items like a luxury vehicle from Atkins Kroll and Triple J Motors. Babauta hinted that Atkins Kroll is going to give a Lexus.

Jose Ayuyu Jr. encourages all golfers to come out and play and Babauta stated that they are expecting several players from Guam, Tinian, and Rota to join the regulars from Saipan. Ayuyu and Babauta said the tournament is expected to be filled to the max and encouraged early registration.

Babauta stated that last year, the classic was a great success as it brought in $25,000 to the Ronald McDonald’s House Charities. This year the recipient of the net profit from the tournament will be the Jose and Ruri Foundation.

Glenn gave some background information on the Jose and Ruri Foundation, which was named after her parents Jose and Marcia “Ruri” Ayuyu. Glenn stated that the foundation was created in celebration and honor of her parents legacy, with a mission to “continue to nurture our community and fund different events and non-profit organizations that continue to do a scale of good.”

Glenn also said that the Jose and Ruri Foundation will be a 501 C3 Nonprofit organization and was created a year ago.

“We are really excited to launch this foundation and to be a part of the golf classic,” she said.

Ayuyu also expressed a heartfelt thank you to all the sponsors and members of the community that made the event possible.