Brad Faxon shares a moment with his daughter Charlotte on the 15th fairway yesterday during the final round of the CVS Caremark Charity Classic.

The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

BARRINGTON — When Billy Andrade and Brad Faxon called freshly minted Masters champion Zach Johnson just hours after he had donned his first green jacket and asked him to be part of their annual CVS Caremark Charity Classic, it didn’t take Johnson long to say yes.

Legendary Hall of Famer Lee Trevino practically asked if he could be part of the tournament instead of Andrade and Faxon asking him.

Nick Price and Chris DiMarco have answered the pair’s call five times each.

And there’s a reason they do.

“First and foremost, it being a charity event, which is what the (PGA) Tour is all about, that sets it apart. Then you throw Brad and Billy in there, two of the most respected guys on the Tour — Billy’s won the Payne Stewart Award,” given to the player that displays professionalism, character, community work and charity, Johnson said yesterday. “I’ve heard good stories [about the Charity Classic] prior to this year and now I understand why.”

With the money raised at the tournament, Faxon and Andrade have donated more than $8.5 million to children’s charities in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts and that’s before the money from this year has been added in.

Andrade said the tournament has remained successful because those involved have become family, and their interest in helping is genuine.

“Everyone (involved in the Charity Classic) is together. Everyone is on the same page. When you don’t have sponsors leave, you’re obviously doing something right, and to have the four presenting sponsors be the same for nine years, that’s saying something,” he said.

“When you’re in the foundation business, if you fake it, you do not survive.”

Faxon mentions with pride a Wall Street Journal article from earlier this year detailing the charitable foundations of athletes, and the Andrade-Faxon Charities ranked fifth on the list. The organization gives away an amazing 93 percent of the money it raises after expenses. With so many demands on his time in the days and weeks leading up to the tournament, Faxon was asked what keeps him motivated.

It’s being able to help.

“We have a check presentation where we give away money to the charities and literally there are people there in tears, whether their group has gotten $100,000 or $10,000,” he said.

A hot shot

Camilo Villegas had arguably the shot of the tournament yesterday on the par-4 second. Villegas’ tee shot on the 392-yard hole went into the left rough, directly behind a maple tree that lines the fairway, about 100 yards from the green. Camilo and his brother, Manuel, who is serving as his caddie this week and will play in the Northeast Amateur today, spent five minutes walking around trying to figure out the best way to attack it.

Members of the gallery were suggesting that Camilo simply chip out, especially since branches from a tree began just 6 feet off the ground, but he didn’t want to listen. Villegas stood over the ball with a wedge and hooked it to the right of the tree, and it never got more than 10 feet into the air.

The ball landed about 25 yards short of the green and kept running, past the pin, which had a left-middle placement, and stopped 10 feet above the hole. Villegas knocked it in for a birdie, and his team dropped to 12-under.

Brightening up the greens

After promising to upstage — or at least match — the pink and white ensembles worn by Team Quigley after Monday’s first round, the tandem of Natalie Gulbis and Juli Inkster turned up for yesterday’s round wearing rather pedestrian all-Navy blue outfits.

Brett and Dana Quigley, however, turned up the brightness again, this time wearing yellow. Their visors were a bright marigold, which they got their caddies, Devon (Dana’s son) and Paul (Brett’s dad and Dana’s brother) to wear as well, while their pants were a softer butter shade. Their shirts were light blue.

Following his father’s path

How Billy Andrade knows he’s come full circle:

On Friday, his 13-year-old son, Cameron, will arrive in North Carolina for the Jerry Haas Summer Golf Camp at Andrade’s alma mater, Wake Forest.

Jerry Haas is the Demon Deacons’ golf coach.

He was also Andrade’s roommate when the Bristol native was at Wake Forest from 1983-86.

smanza@projo.com