- April 4, 2025
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With the chance of hosting a future PGA star when the Korn Ferry Tour rolls into Lakewood Ranch for the LECOM Suncoast Classic April 16-19, Eileen and Bill Wright are happy hosting tournament caddies.
Each year, the Suncoast Classic committee seeks local homeowners to host players and caddies, who struggle financially at golf's minor league level.
One of the draws of hosting the players is that they might become famous, and remember fondly those who gave them a helping hand when they were working their way up.
Consider the case of Lakewood Ranch's Sue Tankersley and Larry Panka, who last year hosted Alejandro Tosti, who played in the final group this past Sunday at the Texas Children's Houston Open. He eventually faded to a tie for fifth, but earned $337,843.75.
Tosti has yet to win, but he now has two top five finishes and a seemingly bright future. Tankersley and Panka said Tosti couldn't have been nicer than when he stayed with them, and he has continued to stay in contact with them through his PGA career.
Meanwhile, the Wrights, who live in the Stoneybrook neighborhood of Heritage Harbour, are hosting Korn Ferry Tour caddies Cody Vincent and Ken Mann.
Who?
Yes, indeed, the caddies aren't household names among golf fans, and likely won't be unless they strike lighting by landing a golfer on his way up. Although the Wrights remembered the two caddies both were working for players who made the cut in last year's LECOM Suncoast Classic, they don't remember whose golf bags they carried.
It just doesn't matter to the Wrights.
"We're for the little guy," Eileen Wright said.
The LECOM Suncoast Classic committee hopes others in the Lakewood Ranch area feel the same.
The tournament is seeking housing for both players and caddies as this year's tournament approaches, and you don't have to be a golf fan to volunteer.
Bill Wright notes, "There is nothing to it."
"You just need to supply a bedroom and a bath," Eileen Wright said. "It is easy."
The Wrights followed an indirect path to hosting LECOM Suncoast Classic caddies. It was about 10 years ago that their grandson, Case Wright, was visiting during a couple summers, and Bill Wright saw a short story in the East County Observer that told about the need for host families for an Education First exchange program.
They decided to host two European teen boys each summer, both to help the program, and to supply some friends for their grandson.
They both said it was a wonderful experience.
When Kay Scholten last year asked the Wrights whether they could host a player or caddy, they figured it wouldn't be much different than their exchange students.
"I heard what they make," Eileen Wright said of caddies on the Korn Ferry Tour. "I felt sorry for them. I thought, 'We have to help those guys out.'"
The experience obviously was good for both the Wrights and the caddies last year. Both caddies called them and asked if they could stay again this year.
Bill Wright said the decision was simple.
"Here were two guys who needed a place to stay," he said. "We were not interested in the golf. They just needed a place to stay and we gave them a place to stay."
"It's just the way we are ... we are helpers," Eileen Wright said.
The Wrights didn't attend any of the tournament rounds last year and they don't have plans to go this year, either.
They did say they were impressed with how hard the caddies work. "They are out early walking the course, and they track every shot," said Eileen Wright, who calls herself a social golfer. "
Scholten said anyone interested in hosting a golfer or caddie can contact her at kayscholten2@gmail.com. For more information, go to the LECOM Suncoast Classic website at LECOMSuncoastClassic.com.
The four-round tournament runs on a Wednesday through Saturday format this year to avoid finishing on Easter Sunday. For those hosting golfers, that means that golfers and their caddies will be gone the day before Easter. Hosting will not affect any Easter events.
