Bulldog Contingent Teams Up With Former Major Leaguer To Win Whitecaps Foundation Golf Event

Big Rapids, Mich. - A team featuring three members of the Ferris State University men's golf team along with a local professor and former Detroit Tigers standout recently emerged victorious in a popular West Michigan golf event.

The Bulldog trio of Jack Weller, Ryan Bayer and Andrew Hammett paired up with former Tigers pitcher Frank Tanana along with FSU professor Dr. Phil Walling, who previously served as a Bulldog volunteer assistant, to win the 2018 Whitecaps Community Foundation Golf Outing that took place at the Watermark Country Club.

The winning contingent shot a 17-under par 55 total over the 18 holes of action in the event, which was sponsored by several organizations and businesses including Ferris State University.

During the winning team trophy presentation, the foundation also honored FSU's Hammett for his record-setting performance this summer in winning the Kent County Amateur Tournament.

Tanana pitched for six teams in the major leagues from 1973 to 1993, including the California Angels, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees. He accumulated 34 shutouts, 4000 innings pitched and nearly 3000 strikeouts in the big leagues.

As a Michigan native, Tanana attended Detroit Catholic Central High School and his showing continued a strong relationship between Ferris State Athletics and the prep school. Several current and former Bulldog student-athletes have competed for the Shamrocks.

Additionally, the event also continued a partnership between the West Michigan Whitecaps and Ferris State. The Bulldogs held a football alumni night at Fifth Third Ballpark this past summer and will face Michigan Tech in the "Battle At The Ballpark" on Oct. 6 in Comstock Park on the Whitecaps' home field.

In addition, Ferris State also teamed up with the Whitecaps Community Foundation in July to hold its second annual free youth football camp in Grand Rapids at Houseman Field.