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LECOM Health Challenge Qualifier Is Today At Shorewood

By Scott Kindberg 4 min read

A year ago, Rick Lamb was one of hundreds of hopefuls who teed it up on the Monday qualifier for the LECOM Health Challenge.

The odds of him getting to play in the opening round three days later?

Steep. In fact, only 12 earned that right.

One of them, however, was Lamb.

And, by Sunday, he left the Upper Course at Peek'n Peak Resort with the tournament championship, courtesy of a course-record 9-under 63 and a chip-in birdie on the second playoff hole. The victory not only earned him a healthy check, but it also catapulted Lamb into the Top 25 of the Web.com Tour money list, which helped him secure his PGA Tour card.

"I guess the advice is just ... be patient," Lamb said during a press conference at Peek'n Peak in May, "because it's one of those things ... where your life could change in one week, kind of like mine did. You get on a roll and things get going in the right direction, you gain some momentum and gain some confidence, you really take off."

Today, the 156 golfers, who are teeing it up in the qualifier at Shorewood Country Club in Dunkirk, are hoping for a similar life-changing trajectory. Among the area hopefuls attempting to qualify are Nolan Swanson, Steve Wintersteen, Kevin Kaszuba and Josh Harrington. Swanson tees off on No. 10 at 7:30 a.m., Wintersteen tees off on No. 10 at 8:10 a.m., Kaszuba tees off on No. 1 at 8:40 a.m. and Harrington tees off on No. 10 at 2 p.m.

Spectators are welcome and encouraged to attend the qualifier. There is no charge and the course will be open prior to the 7 a.m. tee times.

Two other area golfers -- Ryan Swanson (Nolan's younger brother) and Dwayne Randall -- are already in the tournament field after receiving sponsor exemptions.

Interestingly, 33 of the 50 Web.com Tour golfers who earned their PGA Tour cards last season competed in the LECOM Health Challenge. Other notable LECOM Health Challenge alumni include Mackenzie Hughes, Cody Gribble and Wesley Bryan, who have already picked up wins on the PGA Tour this season. Other notable Web.com Tour alums include the likes of Dustin Johnson, two time-Masters champion Bubba Watson and Jason Day.

In addition to the tournament, which runs Thursday through Sunday, following is a schedule of other events this week:

¯ Today: Local qualifying round at Shorewood CC, all day; First Tee of Western New York's Junior Golf Clinic, Peek'n Peak Resort's driving range, 10 a.m. to noon (invitation only); Oncore Golf Junior Pro-Am, Peek'n Peak Resort's Upper Course, 2-5 p.m. (invitation only).

¯ Wednesday: Pro-Am on Upper Course, invitation only.

¯ Thursday: Military/First Responder Appreciation Day: all past and current military/first responders are given free admission for themselves and a guest to the tournament; 7 a.m., ceremonial first tee shot; LECOM Par for the Course, a golfer's guide to injury prevention and treatment, 10 a.m. to noon.

¯ Friday: The Hite Company Business Summit. Focused on multigeneration companies and secession planning, The Retreat Lodge (Peek'n Peak), 9 a.m. to noon.

¯ Saturday: LECOM Health & Wellness Day (pedometer challenge), Peek'n Peak Resort, all day; Life of a Wife on Tour panel discussion, Peek'n Peak Resort's Bistro 210, 6-7:30 p.m.

¯ Sunday: Sunrise service, presented by Jamestown Mattress Company. Join Chautauqua County legislator Ron Lemon as he leads a group of more than 10 denominations, players and the public in a service on the fairway between holes 10 and 18, 6:30-7:30 a.m.; World War II veterans tending the 18th green, all day; presentation of the LECOM Health Challenge championship trophy on the 18th green, TBA.

¯ Gates open at 6:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday and 7 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Play begins at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday and Friday and 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

¯ For ticket information, go to www.lecomhealthchallenge.com.

Starting at /week.