Congaree Golf Club | November 16, 2026
Project Recover Golf Invitational
Honoring Those Who Have Yet to Come Home
Project Recover looks forward to welcoming confirmed participants to the Project Recover Golf Invitational at Congaree Golf Club.
- Registration Begins7:30 AM
- Shotgun Start10:00 AM
- Silent Auction10:00 AM to 3:30 PM
This special gathering will bring together Congaree Ambassadors, Diamond Creek members, veterans, Project Recover representatives, and supporters who share a commitment to honoring Americans missing in action since World War II.
Throughout the Invitational, guests will have the opportunity to learn more about Project Recover’s work and connect with members of the team who conduct research, search, and recovery missions around the world.
Schedule of Events
Monday, November 16
All times Eastern. Please note that the schedule is subject to change. Any significant updates will be communicated to participants.
- 7:30–9:30 AMRegistration at the Main House
Breakfast at The Lodge - 8:00 AMPractice Tee Open
- 9:30 AMParticipant Welcome and Project Recover Remarks
- 10:00 AMShotgun Start
Silent auction bidding opens - 2:30 PMLunch and Closing Program
- 3:00 PMProject Recover Closing Remarks
- 3:30 PMAuction Winner Announcement
Silent auction bidding closes - 4:00 PMScheduled Departures
Silent Auction
A Special Auction
Details Coming SoonAdditional information about the auction will be shared with participants ahead of the Invitational. Please check back for updates.
Bidding Opens
10:00 AM ET
Monday, November 16
Bidding Closes
3:30 PM ET
Monday, November 16
Plan Your Visit
Before You Arrive
Arrival and Check-In
Registration begins at 7:30 AM on Monday, November 16, in the Main House, followed by breakfast at the Lodge.
Attire
Golf attire for breakfast and the Invitational.
Dietary and Accessibility Accommodations
Participants with dietary restrictions, accessibility requirements, or other accommodation needs are encouraged to contact Congaree Member Services in advance.
On-Site Event Contact
[Name / Number]After-Hours Assistance
[After-Hours Phone]Meet the Team
Project Recover Leadership
Pat and Derek will both be at Congaree for the Invitational.
Pat Scannon, M.D., Ph.D.
Founder, The BentProp Project, Limited
President Emeritus, Project Recover
Pat founded The BentProp Project after a 1993 trip to Palau, where he came across the wing of an American B-24 bomber lying in shallow water. That moment started a search that has now spanned more than three decades. In 2016 he helped launch Project Recover, bringing together BentProp, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the University of Delaware to put advanced ocean science and technology to work in the search for American MIAs.
A physician and scientist, Pat earned his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from UC Berkeley and his M.D. from the Medical College of Georgia, then served as a U.S. Army officer at Letterman Army Medical Center. In 1981 he founded the biotech company XOMA, where he served as chief scientist for about 35 years. He has also advised DARPA and the Department of Defense on biodefense.
Derek Abbey, Ph.D.
President and CEO, Project Recover
Derek has been part of Project Recover for 20 years. Before that, he spent 23 years in the Marine Corps as both an enlisted Marine and an officer, on the ground and in the air. As an F/A-18 aviator he logged more combat time in the Hornet than peacetime flying, and he served in special operations as a plank holder at 1st Raider Battalion and Marine Special Operations Company Delta before retiring in 2014.
Derek holds an M.A. in Higher Education Leadership and a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from the University of San Diego, along with a Non-Profit Executive Leadership credential from Stanford. He was a 2019 President George W. Bush Scholar. He lives in Bend, Oregon, and travels across the country and around the world sharing the Project Recover mission.
About Project Recover
Bringing Our MIAs Home
Project Recover is dedicated to searching for and locating American MIAs and POWs from conflicts around the world. Project Recover seeks to provide recognition, information, and closure to families of these service members who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. More broadly, Project Recover provides a platform for educating the public about critical historical events, lost heroes who shaped our country, and the importance of public service.
- 81,000+Americans still missing
- 100+Missions completed
- 25+Countries worked in
- 32+Years of searching
The Project Recover Golf Invitational reflects the shared commitment of everyone who supports this mission. We are grateful to Chairman Dan Friedkin, Congaree Golf Club, its Ambassadors, Diamond Creek members, participating veterans, and all those joining us for this meaningful gathering.
We look forward to welcoming you to Congaree.
