Communities in Schools is bringing out a big hitter for its next fundraiser.

Sean "The Beast" Fister will be the headline attraction at the third annual Fore Kids Sake Drive for Show, Drive for Dough golf tournament, which will be held at 9 a.m. Aug. 27 at Pinehurst No. 8.

Fister has won four championships for long drives, and is reknowned for his ability to hit a golf ball distances that can easily exceed 400 yards. He owns 10 World Championship Long Driving records, including longest carry with no wind.

"I do this all over the country," Fister said in a phone interview. "I make my living hitting golf balls as far as humanly possible."

Fister, 46, took up golf after a training accident at the pole vault pit broke his back and ended his chance of competing in the Olympics.

"After the doctors figured out how serious it was, they told me I was done pole vaulting," Fister said.

Forced into a career change, Fister happened upon golf at age 24, when his brother, Corby, needed someone to fill out a golf foresome.

Fister drove the ball well over 300 yards on his first tee shot and was on his way.

"I found something I could do that I was very good at," Fister said. "Over time, with a few adjustments and a little tweaking here and there, I became very accurate."

The CIS event will also feature a "Drive for Show," "The Beast Challenge" and "Beast Ball."

In the "Beast Ball" competition, 500 golf balls will be sold for $20 each. Twenty-five balls will be selected at random for a chance to win prizes. Fister will then hit each golf ball off the 17th hole at No. 8 following the end of the tournament. The balls that go the farthest will win prizes.

In the Drive for Show, all four par-5s on the course will be marked with one of Fister's World Championship drive distances. Tournament participants will have the opportunity to use the marked drives for their foursome.

In the Beast Challenge anyone who outdrives one of the marked drives will win a prize.

Fister will also play a minimum of six holes with Platinum sponsors for the event.

His drives and total score will be included for the team while he is playing with the group.

Each participant will be provided with an autographed photo of Fister.

The Tournament is a Texas scramble format (handicaps apply) with shotgun start.

Sponsorships are available. For more information, go online to www.cismoore.org and click on "fundraisers."

Fister is the uncle of Tyler Hansbrough, former UNC basketball great and first-round draft pick of the NBA's ndiana Pacers.

The father of three children said he can't imagine anything better than combining his love for helping those in need and playing golf in Pinehurst.

"Anything that has to do with kids I love to be a part of it," Fister said.

"And to do it here (Pinehurst). Those (courses) are hallowed ground (for golfers)."

Contact Tom Embrey at 693-2477 or by e-mail at sports@thepilot.com.