Legacy Of Short, Anderson Endures At MBCC
Above, pro Sara Banke, left, exchanges a high-five with Rich Dixon after the former rolled in a long putt for birdie on the 18th hole during the LINKS Charity at Moon Brook Country Club on Monday. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg
Above are personal golf artifacts that belonged to the late Allen Short, the event’s founding executive director who passed away late last year. Photo by Scott Kindberg
Above, pro Sara Banke, left, exchanges a high-five with Rich Dixon after the former rolled in a long putt for birdie on the 18th hole during the LINKS Charity at Moon Brook Country Club on Monday. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg
Above are personal golf artifacts that belonged to the late Allen Short, the event’s founding executive director who passed away late last year. Photo by Scott Kindberg
Trending
The last in her group to play, Symetra Tour pro Sara Banke crouched down to get a line on her putt on the 18th green at Moon Brook Country Club on Monday afternoon. Satisfied with her read, she drew her putter back, made contact with the ball and watched as it rolled toward the hole.
And rolled.
And rolled.
And rolled.
Some 36 feet later, the ball disappeared from sight for a birdie. Banke smiled, pumped her first and then high-fived Rich Dixon, one of her playing partners in the 26th annual LINKS Charity.
As I snapped photos of the I-don't-believe-what-I-just-saw moment, I couldn't help but think how much the late Allen Short would have enjoyed the theater of it all. If he'd been beside me greenside, I bet he would have been the first to shake Banke's hand as one of his characteristic ear-to-ear smiles creased his face. For Short, the founding executive director of LINKS Charity, the annual event was one of his favorite days of the year.
It was a favorite day for the late Sondra Anderson, too. In 1991, she and Mary Blair co-founded LINKS Charity, which was created with a mission of helping to improve cancer care in the greater Jamestown area through the UPMC Chautauqua WCA Cancer Care Program. To date, the event has raised $1,401,000.
For the record, the winning team from yesterday's LINKS Charity was the team of pro Lisa Ferrero, Roy Glosser, Jon Scalise, Tim Shults and Mike Roberts. But, really, everyone was a winner. Sadly, the only people missing from a glorious summer day were Short and Anderson. Short passed away last Dec. 31. Anderson died earlier this month.
Rest assured, the tournament is still in good hands. About seven years ago, Short turned over the executive director's responsibilities to Brad VanRiper, the senior vice president at Truck-Lite, which is now the lead sponsor. Major sponsors -- Cummins, United Refining, ALSTAR EMS and The Bilicki Law Firm -- came on board as did associate sponsors, Northwest Bank and its subsidiary, Northwest Insurance Services.
"We never did falter, but we were small (at one time) and wanted to get larger," Blair said. "I was walking out (of Moon Brook) one day with (VanRiper and Truck-Lite chief executive officer Brian Kupchella) and Brian said, 'We are looking for something to sink our teeth into charity-wise. We would like to participate.'
"They have been absolutely fabulous.''
VanRiper pointed out that the display of Short's golf-related items, including a green sport coat, was placed next to the Moon Brook dining room yesterday, because that's where Short could be found shaking everyone's hands the morning of the LINKS Charity.
"Last December he gave me the sports coat," VanRiper said. " ... I have it in a special place (in my home). Al's a very special guy to me."