CHAUTAUQUA – The 33rd George Bataitis Open Golf Tournament was held May 7 at Chautauqua Golf Club, hosted by the Jamestown Community College Athletics Department.

“We could not have asked for a better day to go out, golf, and celebrate the Jayhawks,” said George Sisson, director of athletics. “We had more golfers than we have in the past five years and raised more funds in that timeframe as well. With the support we get, this will change future student-athletes’ lives.”

The GBO was first started as an afternoon golf outing among friends and was named after George Bataitis after his 35 years of distinguished service to Jamestown Community College and the athletics department.

This event hosted 24 teams of four on the 18-hole par-72 course under a scramble format. The 24 teams were broken down into four flights with the first- and second-place finishers from each flight receiving an award.

The overall winner, and winner of the First Flight, of this year’s GBO was the team of Charlie Moss, Brian DeVine, Steve Bowman and Reid VanEvery with a score of 63. The second-place finishers of the First Flight was the team of John Trussalo, Mike Roberts, Tom Ames and Craig Lundgren with the score of 63.

The winner of the Second Flight was the team of Nick Trussalo, Jimmy Shultz, Kyle Morris and Matt Bowman with a score of 66. The second-place finisher was the team of Jordan Baker, Pat Henry, John Schulyer and Mike Moyer with the score of 66.

The winner of the Third Flight was the team of Bill Farr, Denny Tyler, Scott Graham and Scott Barry with a team score of 69. The second-place finisher of the flight was the team of Ryan MacIntyre, Justin Kinny, Kris Waddington and Ryan Beaver with a team score of 69.

In the Women’s Division, the team of Ellen Lehning, Kathy Stedman, Kate Ebersole and Grace Hanlon came in first with a team score of 72.

Along with team awards, there were also contest awards given out along the course that included closest to the pin and longest drive. For the men, Cordell O’Brien won the closest to the pin on No. 15 while Scott Dearing had the longest drive on No. 7. For the women, Ellen Lehning was closest to the pin on No. 8 while Kathy Stedman had the longest drive on No. 17.

All proceeds from the GBO goes toward scholarships for athletes attending JCC. After this past weekend’s event, well over $300,000 has been raised to help student-athletes lift some of the financial burden of attending college while competing at a high level. To show their appreciation, athletes who receive scholarships were at the event, volunteering and socializing with the golfers while maintaining social distance.

“It was great to have our student-athletes at the event,” added Sisson. “We were able to show our participants what their commitment was going towards.”

The JCC Athletics Department would like to thank Jamestown Macadam Inc. as being the main sponsor of the GBO along with all the other sponsors that helped make the GBO possible.

“We are grateful for the support of all our sponsors. Thank you to Jamestown Macadam for their continued premier sponsorship,” said Sisson. “George Bataitis is remembered for creating a family atmosphere in Jayhawks athletics. We are blessed to have a large “family” of supporters each year that make this event possible. All is good in the world when the GBO is happening. Friends are able to gather and create support to an awesome cause.”