By Tim Mastro

REHOBOTH BEACH — Normally, when Sawyer Brockstedt and her friends hit the golf course, things are highly competitive, and the focus is keeping the scores low.

Last weekend, though, competition took a back seat.

Instead, the primary objective was to see the highest number possible since it wasn’t strokes they were counting, it was money.

The Sussex Academy freshman was part of a group of 12 nationally ranked young players who participated in the second annual Ace Cup at Kings Creek Country Club in Rehoboth Beach on Friday and Saturday. The charity event supported the Alzheimer’s Association’s Delaware Valley chapter in its mission to drive research and provide support for those impacted by the disease.

The golfers combined to raise $111,674 via online donations — above their goal of $100,000 and beating last year’s mark by nearly $40,000.

“It’s tremendous. It’s unbelievable that these 12 girls came together and were able to raise that amount of money for a good cause,” said Chase Brockstedt, Sawyer’s father and one of the project’s organizers. “I think it’s teaching them life lessons about philanthropy and charity, helping organizations and helping those in need. The overall message is a very positive one, and hopefully, it’s going to have a long-lasting effect on these girls as they go through their lives.”

Sawyer and her friend, Ellison Lundquist, helped to create the Ace Cup. Others who participated were Francesca Choquette, Sophia Dyer, Chloe Chang, Valentina Hurtado, Saia Rampersaud, Kate Barber, McKenna Murphy, Hannah Rabb, Bella Dovhey and Haley Davis.

“The passion and leadership demonstrated by these young ladies is so inspirational and important to the Alzheimer’s Association as a whole and to the people we serve,” said Kristina Fransel, executive director of the Delaware Valley chapter. “We are incredibly proud of the Ace Cup competitors and their families; we value our relationship, as we work together to raise awareness and funds that fuel programs, services and research for a cure.

“It is our hope that these young women can, one day, live in a world without Alzheimer’s disease.”

When the concept of the Ace Cup was created, the Brockstedts and Lundquists were discussing which charity they should donate to.

It was Sawyer who suggested the funding go to Alzheimer’s research. Her grandmother, Mr. Brockstedt’s mother, is battling the disease.

“This disease has hit our family very, very hard, but through this process, we have learned that Alzheimer’s has affected so many people in so many families,” Mr. Brockstedt said. “Everyone it seems like we’ve come across has really been touched by the disease, and so it was something very popular among all the players.”

This year’s Ace Cup coincided with the Alzheimer’s Association’s “The Longest Day” fundraiser, which takes place on or around the summer solstice. June is also Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month.

The two-day golf affair had the 12 players divided into two evenly competitive teams, the Northern Ninjas and the Florida Sharks. They played five nine-hole matches in a variety of formats over the weekend.

The 12 girls have spent a lot of time together thanks to their sport, traveling around the country to various tournaments with the goal of playing high-level collegiate golf, with some eying professional careers. But this outing was a little different, with charity at the forefront of everyone’s minds.

“When we’re on the road at some of these events, if a player has a bad round or a bad tournament, there are consequences to that,” Mr. Brockstedt said. “The players may not want to socialize or the families may not want to have dinner together if somebody’s struggling. This event sort of sheds all of those things, and it allows the families to spend time together because, while these girls want to beat each other on the golf course, it’s all for fun and for charity.”