Xavier College Preparatory High School hosts sold out 15th annual golf tournament

Madeline Zuckerman
·3 min read

What a glorious day it was on the links as Xavier College Preparatory High School in Palm Desert hosted its highly-anticipated 15th annual Fairway to Heaven golf tournament at The Classic Club in Palm Desert on Feb. 2.

Alexis Mullinix, event chair, was assisted by co-chairs Margaret Stenmoen, Chloe Folena, Laura Hall and Reggie Rover.

The tournament, which raised nearly $50,000, is one of the school's primary fundraisers for the athletics department. These funds will be utilized for the school's future competition field improvements, such as field lighting and seating. Xavier Prep is also actively pursuing anyone from the community-at-large who might have an interest in helping the school complete its new stadium.

"Funds raised at this year's tournament will allow us to finish our front track and field stadium with lights and bleachers," said Andrew Clark, Xavier's director of athletics. "And, for the first time, it was exciting to see a record number of students playing and participating in this year's event. … These funds help pay for referees, travel, equipment needs, etcetera. We have found the kids that attend our school may need this support."

This year's tournament, themed Clubs N' Roses, hosted a full field of 144 players. Registration began at 9:30 a.m., followed by an 11:30 a.m. shotgun start, and concluded with a fun cocktail party for 175 guests, featuring a silent auction and awards ceremony.

Tristan Tang, Tyler Tang, Jimi Davis and Madelyn Davis were among the attendees at Xavier College Preparatory High School's 15th annual Fairway to Heaven golf tournament on Feb. 2, 2024.
Tristan Tang, Tyler Tang, Jimi Davis and Madelyn Davis were among the attendees at Xavier College Preparatory High School's 15th annual Fairway to Heaven golf tournament on Feb. 2, 2024.

"Xavier College Prep started as a dream 18 years ago, with some parents who had aspirations for their kids to attend a Catholic High School in the desert," said Mark Campbell, the school's president. "The commitment by those parents over the years has allowed Xavier to achieve what we have accomplished today. We continue to thrive and be the premier educational institution within the Coachella Valley. I believe we set the bar for what education should look like.

"When our students arrive on campus, they feel seen, heard and valued. We understand that we have the responsibility to continue to push the bar because the other schools need to catch up. I am really proud of the work we do and with whom we serve. The folks that attend Xavier and work at Xavier are family. Many of our graduating parents still come out to support Xavier at this annual golf tournament, long after many of their children have graduated from the school."

Event sponsors included FirstBank, McDonald's, La Quinta Brewing Co., Craig Conley, Able's Memory, Ocean Mist, Vintage Landscape, Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, the De Klotz Family, Chavez Buick GMC, Foster-Gardner, Patrick Lizza UBS Financial Services Inc., Coachella Valley Orthodontics, Palm Springs Motors, Xpress Graphics, Modern Times, JuneShine and BuzzBox.

"We have sponsored this event every year," said Scott Simmers, general manager of Palm Springs Motors. "My son Jay was on the Xavier Golf Team for three years, where he played varsity golf. He had such a good experience at the school. He has graduated from college and is now a realtor here in the Coachella Valley. We have always sponsored and helped out Xavier College Prep because in the beginning Xavier didn't have a transportation program, so we donated vans to the school."

Mark Campbell, Mike Walton, Jonathan Gist and Jeff Fortson compete at Xavier College Preparatory High School's 15th annual Fairway to Heaven golf tournament on Feb. 2, 2024.
Mark Campbell, Mike Walton, Jonathan Gist and Jeff Fortson compete at Xavier College Preparatory High School's 15th annual Fairway to Heaven golf tournament on Feb. 2, 2024.

Xavier hosts three key fundraising events per year that the community and local businesses can get involved in and support, including its annual pasta dinner, annual golf tournament, and companions dinner. The school will host their upcoming companions dinner on March 16.

For information on Xavier College Preparatory High School, visit xavierprep.org.

Madeline Zuckerman is owner of M. Zuckerman Marketing & Public Relations, Inc., a strategic marketing, branding, public relations and special events firm with offices in Rancho Mirage and Newport Beach, Calif. She is a founder of McCallum Theatre, a board member of the One Valley Foundation, the official nonprofit of the Coachella Valley Firebirds and has been a guest reporter with The Desert Sun for the past 16 years.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Xavier College Preparatory High School hosts sold out golf tournament