The sun is shining brightly on the Sunshine Foundation Golf Classic. Tournament co-chairperson Wayne Dunn said yesterday it "just blew me away" that $150,000 was raised at Thursday's annual charity golf event at the St. Thomas Golf and County Club, an event dedicated to fulfilling the dreams of terminally ill and physically disabled children.

The tournament, which began in 1988, has raised $650,000.

But most of the money has come in the past three four years -- more than $100,000 each year.

"Last year we hit $120,000 and I was wondering just how the heck we'd do it again," Dunn said. "I was thinking, if we had a great live auction, we'd make $120,000. The generosity . . . I just can't believe it."

The live auction, which included several trips, raised $60,000.

Although there is no official source for such information, it is believed $150,000 is the largest amount raised at a charity golf tournament in London and area.

The Dave Scatcherd Classic, which has been running at the Oakwood Inn Resort and Golf Club, has raised $1 million over its 22 years but never $150,000 in a single year.

The most the London Sports Celebrity dinner has raised in a single year is $84,000 in 1999.

Kent State golfers on a roll

Its been quite a ride for Ben Curtis and Kent State. Former Kent State golfer Brian Tisdelle, 34, who plays out of the Oaks, mentioned this week that Kent State players won three titles in a week. Of course, everyone knows about Curtis winning the British Open.

But Tisdelle said Ontario Amateur winner Peter Laws and Canadian Tour winner Jon Mills also attended Kent State.

A few weeks earlier, David Morland, another Kent State graduate, won a U.S. Nationwide Tour event.

From the short grass

London Hunt's Andrew Parr was tied for 58th in the Porter Cup championship heading into yesterday's final round with scores of 72-68-73--213, three over par. Lee French of Sunningdale was in 71st spot after shooting 70-76-78--222 . . . Bantam golfers (13 and under) Steven Bridgland of River Road and Travis Horvath of Tillsonburg tied with 74's for first in the Tyson Tour event at Echo Valley. Bridgland won a playoff to take the championship. . . . Joe Rinker of London has two ties for first on the Great Lakes mini-tour in eight starts. He tied for first at Heron Point shooting 71 and at Victoria Park East in Guelph with a 66. Rinker plays Monday at the Grey Silo course in Waterloo. He has won $2,459 on the tour. Jamie Edwards of Kincardine is 11th on the money list with $3,685 . . . Brennan Little of St. Thomas, who caddies for Mike Weir, is getting married in Dallas today.

Ontario junior

David Markle, 18, of Shelburne shot a two-under 70 yesterday to win the Investors Ontario junior boys' golf championship in Welland. Markle entered the final round in fourth place, four shots back of Kyle MacKenzie of Listowel. Markle shot an eight-under 282 with rounds of 73-71-68-70. MacKenzie tied for second with rounds of 67-72-69-78. Andrew Zanatta of London tied for 10th, shooting 72-75-72-75 for three-over 295. Will Cumberland of London shot 74-72-73-76--295, which left him tied for 13th. Graham Hill of Sarnia tied for 22nd, shooting 74-76-71-77 while Matt Hill of Sarnia and Bobby Thomson of Petrolia tied for 26th.