Chipping in for charity
7/13/2013Playing golf for the sake of charity were many folks who participated in golf outings this season.
The biggest one of them all starts Thursday. The Marathon Classic presented by Owens Corning and O-I will be at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania. Started in 1984 with tournament host Jamie Farr, and known until this year as The Jamie Farr Toledo Classic presented by Kroger, Owens Corning, and Owens-Illinois Inc., the event continues its tradition of bringing excitement to the city.
The new title sponsor has brought more than 100 volunteers from all over the country to help with the event.
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Since 1984, the tournament has donated more than $7.7 million to more than 110 local children's charities. So come on out and enjoy the fun. Even if you are not a golfer, it is a place to see and be seen.
The Tenth Annual Savage Foundation Golf Classic was at Sylvania Country Club. The first nine years raised nearly $700,000 for local charities. This year's estimated $80,000 net supports local charities: Open Arms of Findlay, Mountain Mentors, Heartbeat of Toledo, and Alzheimer's Association of Northwest Ohio, according to tournament director Dan Steinberg.
The Austin Carr-Kids Unlimited Celebrity Golf Classic sponsored by Merrill Lynch and ProMedica at Highland Meadows Golf Club raised more than $70,000. Mr. Carr is the University of Notre Dame's all-time leading scorer and a former member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The winning team was Pat Westendorf, Mike Repass, Mike Ducey, Neil Garrison, and Nick Vitucci, coach of the Toledo Walleye.
The annual Hit the Links for Lourdes University students sponsored by MT Business Technologies/RICOH at Bedford Hills Golf Club raised more than $25,000. The top women's team was Jerl Machine, Inc.: Jo Ellen Apgar, Anne Marie Blank, Gayle Lampkowski, and Ann Meier.
Toledo Refining Company presented Epilepsy Center's 24th Annual Practically a Golf Tournament (PGT) at Levis Commons in Perrysburg, bringing in $16,500. The event included 18 custom-built miniature golf holes. Best Hole design went to Rod Bowe with Rudolph/Libbe for a flamingo-themed hole.
Hundreds of golf balls fell at Valleywood Country Club during the Holland Springfield Rotary's Annual Golf Ball Drop! Auctions added to the fun along with the singing of "Happy Birthday" to retired Rotarian Lowell Yoder, 83, whose birthday cake was sold for $1,000 thanks to lively competition between his sons.
Linda Kerul's ball fell closest to the target and won her $2,000. More than $15,000 was netted for the club's Foundation and proceeds benefit the education of Springfield Township children.
Stone Oak Country Club's 17th Annual Rally for the Cure netted $10,000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Since 1997, Stone Oak golfers have raised $160,000 for this cause.
Golfers enjoyed a post-game cocktail party emceed by Ron Lincoln and Gary Yunker. Event chairmen were Barb Malhoit and Deb Lantz.
Stone Oak also hosted the 2nd annual Send Our Kids to College golf event that raised $22,000 for the Stone Oak Employee Scholarship Fund. This year's awardee is Molly Wheeler who received $8,000.
UPS (United Parcel Sevice) Toledo Division/United Way Golf Outing at Heatherdowns Country Club reaped nearly $2,200. The winning team was Al Rister, Steve Delonge, Mike Grodi, and Joe Kline. The proceeds went to UPS Sneakers-Feeding the Sole program, an extension of the YMCA/JCC of Greater Toledo Summer Food Service Program, according to event coordinators Paul Maconochie, Scott Roger, and Jeff Lash.
Other charitable golf events and the amount raised included:
The D.O.V.E. (Development of Vietnam Endeavors) Fund Golf Outing at South Toledo Golf Club; more than $24,000.
Heartbeat of Toledo's sixth annual "Golf for Heartbeat" Golf Outing at Bedford Hills Golf Club raised about $15,000.
Diabetes Youth Services 8th Annual Best Shot for Kids Golf Benefit at Highland Meadows Golf Club, more than $18,000.
Family Promise of Greater Toledo 100 Hole Golf Marathon at Whiteford Valley Golf Club: $10,000 to benefit a new facility.
Ballet Theatre of Toledo's second annual golf outing at Belmont Country Club: more than $8,000.
Compass Corporation for Recovery Services/Family Service of NW Ohio Golf Outing at Stone Oak Country Club, about $7,500.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio Annual Golf Event "On the Greens" at Stone Ridge Golf Club, about $7,000.
Professional Remodelers Organization (PRO) Fourth Annual Charlie Hobbs Memorial Day Golf Outing at Bedford Hills Golf Club, about $5,500.
Tee off for Teal with the Ovarian Cancer Connection Eighth Annual Karen Creque Memorial Golf Event at The Legacy Golf Club, $4,800.