Guardsman Takes To The Greens For Education

Daniel Rooney grew up in Stillwater, played golf at Kansas and flies fighter jets, but it's what he does for soldiers that makes him a winner in life. Rooney is really good at two things: golf and

Wednesday, August 8th 2007, 8:24 pm

By: News On 6

Daniel Rooney grew up in Stillwater, played golf at Kansas and flies fighter jets, but it's what he does for soldiers that makes him a winner in life. Rooney is really good at two things: golf and flying F-16 fighter jets. Rooney is a captain in the Air National Guard and a golf pro in Michigan. News On 6 anchor Omar Villafranca reports now, he's combining his talents to help service men and women in uniform.

Rooney teamed up with the PGA to make September 1st Patriot Golf Day. They'll ask golf courses all over the U.S. to collect one extra dollar, not for a parade or free golf for veterans but for something that will last longer.

"Thereâ€™s a huge need out there. The government does some very good work to assist these families, who have been disabled or paid the ultimate sacrifice, but there's a large gap and one of them is in the education sector,â€ Rooney said.

The money generated on the golf course will give college scholarships to husbands, wives, and children of soldiers killed or disabled in Iraq or Afghanistan.

To fire up support, Rooney took CBS golf announcer David Feherty up in his F-16. The ride left a normally talkative Feherty speechless.

"David, when he went up, he said his number one goal was not to fill more than one bag full of vomit,â€ Rooney said.

On Patriot Golf Day, Rooney hopes golfers remember, they're not only teeing off for fun but to help soldiers.

"The Patriot Golf Day, really if you boil it down, it's our way to ask for help, but it gives golfers all over America the opportunity to participate by going to play golf on September 1st, which is certainly not a bad deal," said Rooney.

Watch the video: Patriot Golf Day