“I went to Mount Everest today,” he said.

Having LPGA legend Nancy Lopez in his group certainly helped, but judging from the smiling faces of dozens and dozens of supporters who joined Latona at a post-tournament dinner reception at the Comedy Center, he had plenty of folks who felt the same way.

For the record, the team of Ryan Munson, Bryan Gealy, Doug Robinson and Darren Cox, along with LPGA pros Julie Aime and Val Skinner, won the Men’s Division with a 59 in the scramble format. Claiming the Mixed Division, also with a 59, was the team of Dean Weaver, Emmett McCann, Donna Winston and Kelly Dawson, along with LPGA pros Jackie Gallagher Smith and Rosie Jones.

The scores hardly mattered, though.

Michelle Redman

Everyone was a winner in the 30th and final event, particularly the endowment fund at WCA Foundation. Since LINKS Charity’s inception in 1990, nearly $1.7 million has been raised for cancer care in the greater Jamestown community.

It was understandable, then, why the remarks of co-chairmen and Bemus Point neighbors Peter Sullivan and Mike Roberts were delivered haltingly at times, because thanks to the generous financial support of companies and individuals, the classic was able to go out in glorious fashion.

“When you walk around your neighborhood, don’t go with an empty glass, because it’s just inviting trouble,” Sullivan said. “That’s how I got into it in the first place.”

The tongue-in-cheek remark drew laughter and applause from the crowd.

In reality, though, it appeared there was no journey that Sullivan and Roberts would have rather embarked on together than the one they began 10 months ago.

Rosie Jones

“The bottom line is don’t walk around your neighborhood with an empty glass,” Sullivan said. “If you do, and you have as many friends and relationships that I do, your glass is always full.”

Patty Jordan, who has played in 29 of the 30 LINKS Charity events, will always have fond memories of her trips to Jamestown.

“We come here because it’s amazing people and a great charity,” she said. “You guys are incredibly cool. Many of us, if we added up all our years together (coming to Moon Brook CC) it would be pretty scary. … You rank among the top, the best and so much fun. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

To that end, Sullivan, Roberts and a handful of other committee members received LINKS Charity flags signed by each one of the 26 LPGA pros, including legends Lopez, Skinner, Michele McGann, Rosie Jones, Pat Bradley, Donna Caponi, Silver Creek resident and Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame inductee Cindy Miller and Laura Diaz.

“I will treasure the flags,” Roberts said. ” … This event isn’t possible without you. You have a god-given talent. Thank you for coming to Jamestown and sharing it with us. We are just amazed by your generosity in coming and giving back to the game we all love so much.”

Donna Caponi

From both perspectives — amateurs and pros — the figurative view from the LINKS Charity Classic “summit” the last three decades has been spectacular indeed.

NOTES: Tim Shults, Matt Kahm, Jim Henderson and Jason Lindahl, playing with LPGA pros Donna Caponi and Maira Dunn, finished second in the Men’s Division with a 60. … Mary Conarro, Joe Albrecht, Betsy Morando and Chuck Ludwig, playing with LPGA pros Kate Golden and Nancy Lopez, finished second in the Mixed Division with a 60.

Silver Creek resident Cindy Miller laughs during Monday’s LINKS Charity Classic at Moon Brook Country Club. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

LPGA legend Nancy Lopez is pictured with 8-year-old Carly Pillittieri and 10-year-old Laine Pillittieri. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

Peter Sullivan, left, and Mike Roberts, LINKS Charity co-chairmen, are pictured with hole flags signed by 26 LPGA pros at a dinner reception held Monday night at the Comedy Center in Jamestown. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg