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Cassadaga Valley Student To Attend PGA Tour Event In Las Vegas

Skyler Szablewski, 15, of Cassadaga is pictured. Skyler is a patient at Shriners Hospital Erie will attend this week’s Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas to represent the pediatric care network at the tournament.

Skyler Szablewski of Cassadaga and a patient at Shriners Children’s Erie will attend this week’s Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas to represent the pediatric care network at the tournament.

Skyler was chosen to represent the pediatric care network at the tournament, where he and 22 other patient ambassadors will serve as Standard Bearer’s throughout the weekend, carrying the scores of professional golfers as they compete in the tournament. The trip will provide Szablewski an “inside the ropes” opportunity at a PGA Tour event, as well as the chance to share how Shriners Children’s has helped transform patient’s lives.

“I am honored that my doctors chose me to represent them as a Standard Bearer at the Shriners Children’s Open,” Skyler said. “I love golf! My grandpa taught me the game and that’s how we spend time together. Thanks to Shriners, I am able to go meet other kids from across the country that receive care and keep score for professional golfers. I’m excited to walk the course in Las Vegas as the ambassador for the Erie location of Shriners Children’s.”

Skyler, 15, is a sophomore at Cassadaga Valley Central School. He plays seven different instruments but prefers baritone the most, which he plays in his high school band. Skyler also enjoys playing golf and riding dirt bikes.

In the summer of 2023, Skyler was involved in a dirt bike accident that landed him in a local hospital with a leg fracture. After wearing a cast for many months, upon removal, the doctors had further concerns and referred him to Shriners Children’s.

The pediatric specialists at Shriners Children’s Erie quickly determined that the spiral fracture of Skyler’s tibia was affecting his growth plate and his foot was already beginning to turn with growth. Surgery was scheduled immediately to close the growth plate.

Following a period of recovery, Skyler was grateful for the ability to get back to golf and dirt bike riding, though now he always wears full protective gear, including riding boots.

Skyler’s mother, Amber Szablewski, said she is appreciative of the care he received and for the opportunity for Skyler to travel to Las Vegas to attend the PGA Tour event.

“We are so grateful for the team at Shriners Children’s Erie,” she said. “Thanks to the quick thinking of his doctors and the support of their staff when the insurance company didn’t want to help, Shriners Children’s gave our son his ability to keep doing the things he loves. We are thankful from the bottom of our hearts.”

To watch Skyler participate in this year’s Shriners Children’s Open, watch on NBC or GolfChannel.com.

The 2024 Shriners Children’s Open brings many of the world’s top golfers to TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas to compete and earn FedExCup points. It is the third event of the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Fall. Established in 1983, the open attracts some of the most recognized names in golf each year – Tiger Woods took home his inaugural PGA Tour win at the event in 1996. Past tournament champions include Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Woods, Jim Furyk, Webb Simpson, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Cantlay, Kevin Na, Sungjae Im and in 2023, Tom Kim. Some of the players will participate in the competition and help support the mission of Shriners Children’s. For more information, visit www.shrinerschildrensopen.com.

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