Each year, the Seattle Prep golf team turns competition into a cause with the Panther Cup, their own version of the Ryder Cup. The Panther Cup is more than just a competition, it serves as a fundraiser benefiting the First Tee of Greater Seattle, an organization dedicated to providing young kids and adults with access to golf. “Together, we hope to help raise scholarship funds for young kids to start playing golf,” Seattle Prep Golf Coach Gilbert Quitlong said.
The event puts the Seattle Prep golf team against itself, putting both girls’ and boys’ teams together and then splitting them into two squads – the Blue Team and the White Team. The teams compete in a Ryder Cup style match play. However, the competition extends beyond the course, as the teams also strive to outdo each other in fundraising efforts.
“It’s a chance for us to give back to the golfing community and help improve the accessibility of the game for young kids,” Quitlong explained. The event is more than just the game, it is a way to show the community embedded within the team and Seattle Prep.
The fundraiser was created by Eamon Mohrbacher, Class of 2024, who also served as co-team captain his senior year at Prep. Ever since the start of the tradition, the Panther Cup has become an exciting tradition, with this year marking its second installment.
“To me and my team, the fundraiser is more than just raising money—it’s about making a difference beyond the golf course,” Quitlong said.
He sees the Panther Cup as a chance to connect with others who share a passion for the game and a desire to make it more accessible.
“Golf is a game of a lifetime,” he added. “Helping young people start early gives them a path that can stay with them forever.”
The impact of the Panther Cup has been astonishing. “The past two years, the Panther Cup has raised over $10,000 for the First Tee of Greater Seattle. That money has opened the doors to the game of golf for hundreds of kids.
The Panther Cup isn’t just about bragging rights. It is about making a difference, one swing at a time.
