SE: Crofoot Cup a Unique Fundraising Event for K-State, Texas Tech Golf Programs
Nov 13, 2018 | Men's Golf, Women's Golf, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
What started as a weekly golf outing between two people more than 50 years apart in age turned into an annual fundraising event that's totaled more than $200,000 for K-State and Texas Tech's men's and women's golf programs.
Its name? The Crofoot Cup — a two-day, Ryder Cup-style tournament between donors of K-State and Texas Tech. It's named after Jay Crofoot, a K-State graduate, Colbert Hills founder and Hall of Fame member who ran a cattle business in Lubbock, Texas.
Each year's Crofoot Cup brings in more than $14,000, but there's a caveat. The money raised is divided up so 60 percent goes to the winning school and 40 percent goes to that year's loser. This year, K-State won to take an 8-7 lead in the all-time series.
"You're a winner every year," said Steve Yonke, who played for K-State at the 15th annual Crofoot Cup at Colbert Hills, held in early October. "That's what this group is all about."
K-State men's golf head coach Grant Robbins can attest to this.
"It really is appreciated and accumulates over time," he said of the event's donations, which he and K-State women's golf head coach Kristi Knight share for various facility improvements and equipment for their programs. "We've been able to enhance our indoor facility, get some training aides like Trackman, and that was done by the funds that were raised from this event."
One of K-State's former men's golfers played a role in the creation of the Crofoot Cup.
Curtis Yonke, Steve Yonke's son and Jim Colbert's grandson, grew up in Lubbock, Texas. When Curtis Yonke was young, he and Jay Crofoot played golf together about once a week.
"Curtis was probably 10 or 12 years old and Jay was probably 65 to 70, which really highlights the beauty of the game of golf," Steve Yonke said, "but also highlights the friendships that form from the game of golf."
This connection eventually sparked an idea in Steve Yonke.
"We were living in Lubbock at the time, and the community in Lubbock was very much like the community in Manhattan, and the school and the way it was embraced by the community was very similar to the way Kansas State was embraced by Manhattan," he said. "So, we found a common cause to be able to put something together that benefitted both schools."
Typically, the Crofoot Cup is held the week K-State and Texas Tech play each other in football. With this year's game scheduled for November 17 and it being K-State's turn to host the event, however, the Crofoot was held on October 4-5 to avoid potentially cold weather in Manhattan.
The biggest difference in this year's event, however, was who was missing from it. Jay Crofoot died a few weeks before the 15thtournament named in his honor took place, at the age of 91. His presence was missed by all, but his legacy will continue to be carried out through the event.
"It's a good tribute to him," Terry Crofoot, Jay's Crofoot's son, said.
"Jay was just a great person. It didn't matter if you knew Jay or you didn't, Jay was going to treat you just like you were one of his friends, and he would give you the shirt off his back. He was just the kindest man and wanted to help anybody achieve whatever goal, whatever direction they wanted to go," Steve Yonke added. "There's a commitment to keep the event going and continue to honor the Crofoot family for their generous contributions to both institutions."
What started as a weekly golf outing between two people more than 50 years apart in age turned into an annual fundraising event that's totaled more than $200,000 for K-State and Texas Tech's men's and women's golf programs.
Its name? The Crofoot Cup — a two-day, Ryder Cup-style tournament between donors of K-State and Texas Tech. It's named after Jay Crofoot, a K-State graduate, Colbert Hills founder and Hall of Fame member who ran a cattle business in Lubbock, Texas.
Each year's Crofoot Cup brings in more than $14,000, but there's a caveat. The money raised is divided up so 60 percent goes to the winning school and 40 percent goes to that year's loser. This year, K-State won to take an 8-7 lead in the all-time series.
"You're a winner every year," said Steve Yonke, who played for K-State at the 15th annual Crofoot Cup at Colbert Hills, held in early October. "That's what this group is all about."
K-State men's golf head coach Grant Robbins can attest to this.
"It really is appreciated and accumulates over time," he said of the event's donations, which he and K-State women's golf head coach Kristi Knight share for various facility improvements and equipment for their programs. "We've been able to enhance our indoor facility, get some training aides like Trackman, and that was done by the funds that were raised from this event."
One of K-State's former men's golfers played a role in the creation of the Crofoot Cup.
Curtis Yonke, Steve Yonke's son and Jim Colbert's grandson, grew up in Lubbock, Texas. When Curtis Yonke was young, he and Jay Crofoot played golf together about once a week.
"Curtis was probably 10 or 12 years old and Jay was probably 65 to 70, which really highlights the beauty of the game of golf," Steve Yonke said, "but also highlights the friendships that form from the game of golf."
This connection eventually sparked an idea in Steve Yonke.
"We were living in Lubbock at the time, and the community in Lubbock was very much like the community in Manhattan, and the school and the way it was embraced by the community was very similar to the way Kansas State was embraced by Manhattan," he said. "So, we found a common cause to be able to put something together that benefitted both schools."
Typically, the Crofoot Cup is held the week K-State and Texas Tech play each other in football. With this year's game scheduled for November 17 and it being K-State's turn to host the event, however, the Crofoot was held on October 4-5 to avoid potentially cold weather in Manhattan.
The biggest difference in this year's event, however, was who was missing from it. Jay Crofoot died a few weeks before the 15thtournament named in his honor took place, at the age of 91. His presence was missed by all, but his legacy will continue to be carried out through the event.
"It's a good tribute to him," Terry Crofoot, Jay's Crofoot's son, said.
"Jay was just a great person. It didn't matter if you knew Jay or you didn't, Jay was going to treat you just like you were one of his friends, and he would give you the shirt off his back. He was just the kindest man and wanted to help anybody achieve whatever goal, whatever direction they wanted to go," Steve Yonke added. "There's a commitment to keep the event going and continue to honor the Crofoot family for their generous contributions to both institutions."
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