The winners of the 25th annual TRC Golf Classic pose together: from left, Dave Saraney, Evan Owens, Nick Fiorella and Larry Hudson. For winning the tournament, each golfer received a print of a painting made by a person with a disability who takes part in The Resource Center’s art program.
Submitted photo
Golfers enjoyed warm, sunny and dry conditions at the 25th annual TRC Golf Classic, held July 26 at Moon Brook Country Club near Jamestown.
Twenty-six foursomes competed in the four-ball, two-best-ball format. Winning the tournament was the team of Larry Hudson, Nick Fiorella, Evan Owens, and Dave Saraney, representing Jamestown Container Companies. For finishing first, they each received a print of a painting made by a person with intellectual and developmental disabilities in The Resource Center’s art program. They also will have their names engraved on the champions’ trophy, which is called The Gregg Bender Cup in honor of the retired TRC employee and former longtime chair of the TRC Golf Classic steering committee.
Once the tournament concluded, the traditional Special Olympics putting contest took place. Eighteen athletes participated, with each Special Olympian getting three chances to make a lengthy putt. While several golfers came close to the hole, the only golfer who sank a putt was Elijah Williams.
Following a buffet dinner prepared by Moon Brook staff, awards were presented to the top teams in the tournament, and prize drawings were held. Patricia Perlee, the president of The Resource Center’s board of directors, and Denise Jones, TRC’s chief executive officer, thanked the golfers for participating in the tournament, which raises money to support people with disabilities in Chautauqua County.
For the 10th straight year, Lake Shore Savings was the tournament sponsor. Other major sponsors were the Winifred Crawford Dibert Foundation, HM Insurance Group, Premier Consulting Associates, Bryans & Gramuglia, Jamestown Container Companies, Jamestown Macadam, LaBella Associates, Lutheran Jamestown, The Post-Journal and Support Enterprises, Inc. Other sponsors included Arthur R. Gren Company, Captain Ale Bar & Grill, Collaborative Children’s Solutions, Conrad Office Products, Courier Capital, DFT Communications, Fredonia Beaver Club, Graf Realty, Great Lakes Tree Services, HBKS Wealth Advisors, Jamestown Awning, Jamestown Mattress, Johnson, Mackowiak & Associates, Johnston Paper, KeyBank, Kinley Corporation, M.J. Foley Co., Pepsi Co. of Jamestown, Person Centered Services, SM Cristall, Shults Auto Group, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, Twinstar Business Solutions, USI Insurance, Weber Knapp and The Resource Center’s Executive Management Team. Lake Shore, Jamestown Container and Premier have been tournament sponsors for each of the event’s 25 years.
Elijah Williams, second from right, won the Special Olympics putting contest. He is pictured with, from left, Denise Jones, The Resource Center’s chief executive officer; Dan Reininga, the president and CEO of Lake Shore Savings, the tournament sponsor; and Williams’ parents, Mary and Mike, who are Special Olympics coaches.
Submitted photo
The following businesses donated items: ACME The Appliance Store, Brown &; Brown Insurance, Chautauqua Golf Club, Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, DFT Communications, Enterprise Fleet Management, Fancher Chair, Greater Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, Kennedy Shur-Fine, Mayville Tremaine, Shorewood Country Club, Smoking Bears Smoke Shop, Southern Tier Brewing Company, Tim Hortons and ZTS Management.
The TRC Golf Classic’s success is due in large part to the efforts of its steering committee. This year’s committee consisted of Chris Anderson, chair; Gregg Bender, chair emeritus; Victoria Trass Bardo, Daniel Bender, Derek Dawson, Adam Dimitri, Todd Frangione, R. Michael Goldman, Mary Johnson, Jason Stronz, Timur Tyra, Tad Wright, Gary Yager and Ben Windoft.
Also critical to the tournament’s success were the contributions of its other event-day volunteers: Kevin Anderson, Kayla Bohall, Theresa Butts, Kelly Dimitri, Kathy Field, Ashley Hammond, Cindy Hitchcock, Denise Jones, Austin Mitchell, Michelle Pattison, Karen Silzle and Jane Young.
“We thank our wonderful sponsors and volunteers for making the 25th annual TRC Golf Classic a big success,” Anderson said. “Without the financial commitment of our sponsors and our dedicated volunteers, this event could not take place. They help make a difference in the lives of many people.” He noted that while final figures have not been tabulated, this year’s tournament will generate more than $40,000 after all expenses have been paid. This will bring the tournament’s cumulative net proceeds to $1.7 million since the event was first held in 1997.
Money raised through the TRC Golf Classic benefits Filling the Gap Inc., a Jamestown-based not-for-profit organization that works with The Resource Center to improve the lives of people with disabilities and other socioeconomic challenges. The proceeds of this year’s tournament will be used to purchase overhead lift systems for some of TRC’s facilities. The systems make it easier and safer to transfer people from wheelchairs.
From left Lily Constantino, community coach at The Resource Center; Abby Adam, Special Olympics athlete; and Dan Hocking, co-owner of ACME The Appliance Store, pose with a television ACME donated as a prize for the TRC Golf Classic.
Submitted photo
Next year’s TRC Golf Classic is scheduled for July 25. Businesses interested in sponsoring the event can contact Anderson at 485-4671.