Brad Davis, the pride of Monaca, back home for annual golf outing

Just as he's done the past 26 years, Brad Davis returns to his roots this week. He's hosting a golf outing that in essence serves as a reunion for so many with ties to Monaca High School.

A 1974 Monaca graduate who went on to NBA fame with the Dallas Mavericks, Davis originally used his golf outing to help raise scholarship money for athletes from his alma mater.

But when the Monaca/Center merger was established in July of 2009, Davis kept his golf outing alive and now raises funds for three athletes from Central Valley.

This year's event will be played Saturday at Fox Run Golf Course.

“No, I never considered putting a halt to the golf outing because of the merger,” Davis told The Times during his outing in the summer of 2009. "The merger has been a great thing for both communities, academically and athletically.”

On Saturday, Davis told The Times that he's honored to still be part of a project started years ago by former Monaca basketball and baseball coach Dave Nichol and Monaca sports boosters including Nichol's brother, the late Robert "Horse" Nichol, and Tom Yost.

"It's all about the guys back there who put this all together," said Davis, who, as a sophomore guard, helped Monaca win the WPIAL 2A title in 1972. "They get the sponsorships, they get people signed up to play, they get volunteers to help out. Those guys do a great job. By the time I get there, everything is pretty well organized."

While that may be true, the outing is possible and successful because Davis lends his name to the event and because he's shows up each year with his own foursome.

Years ago, several famous Beaver County sports personalities hosted golf outings that raised money for good causes. Among them were Beaver Falls' Joe Namath (United Way), Aliquippa's Mike Ditka (scholarships at Aliquippa), Beaver Falls' Joe Walton (Robert Morris football program), Hopewell's Tony Dorsett (McGuire Memorial Home) and New Brighton's Tito Francona (oncology and cardiology funds for Heritage Valley Beaver).

Nowadays, Davis' outing is the only event hosted by a prominent Beaver County sports figure.

"For a lot of guys, it is a reunion," said Davis, who still works for the Mavericks as a radio broadcaster, player development coach and community services representative for the team. "I know there are a lot of guys from out of town who went to Monaca are coming in. It's really a great time."

Among those playing this year are former Monaca basketball star Billy Zopf, a 1966 Monaca grad who played college hoops at Duquesne and then one year with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks.

As of Saturday, event chairman John Mateer said 36 foursomes that have entered. Mateer also said that there may be room for a few more foursomes.

Davis, who played 15 years in the NBA including 13 with the Mavericks, is the only Beaver County basketball player to ever be selected in the first round of the NBA draft. After playing three years at Maryland, he was taken 15th overall in the 1977 draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Davis flew from his home in Dallas and arrived in western Pennsylvania on Sunday. He plans on playing a round of golf Tuesday with some friends at Olde Stonewall Golf Club. He'll tee it up again Saturday at Fox Run.

His foursome Saturday will include two friends from Texas and his daughter Cara.

"Brad's been doing this a long time and says he'll keep doing it for as long the people back here want him to do it," said Otto Pritchard, the former Monaca coach who coached Davis as a sophomore and junior.

For anyone still interested in playing, call Mateer at 724-312-4967.