Twenty-four foursomes competed in the four-ball, two-best-ball format. Winning the tournament with a score of 120 was the team of Greg Krauza, Matt Krauza, Dave Moch and Roger Callani, who 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.

Earning top honors in the first flight with a score of 122 was the team of Gregg Bender, Dan Hocking, Phil Ribaudo and Mike Roberts. Finishing atop flight two with a 127 was the team of Nick Fiorella, Larry Hudson, Larry Owens and Dave Saraney; they were the overall champions of last year’s tournament.

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 contestant who sank a putt was Kay Davis.

Following a buffet dinner prepared by Moon Brook staff, awards were presented to the top teams in the tournament, and prize drawings were held. Richard Erickson, 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.

Kay Davis, center, won the Special Olympics putting contest. She is pictured with Gregg Bender, former chair of the tournament’s steering committee, and Denise Jones, The Resource Center’s chief executive officer. For winning the putting contest, Davis received a golf bag. Submitted photo

For the 11th 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, LaBella Associates, Lutheran Jamestown, Ocean State Innovations, The Post-Journal, Support Enterprises, Inc., and USI Insurance. Other sponsors included Arthur R. Gren Company, Captain Ale Bar & Grill, Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency, Collaborative Children’s Solutions, Conrad Office Products, Courier Capital, DFT Communications, DoubleTree Hilton Jamestown, Enterprise Fleet Management, Graf Realty, HBKS Wealth Advisors, HCH Interiors, Jamestown Awning, Jamestown Macadam Inc., Jamestown Mattress, KeyBank, Kinley Corporation, M.J. Foley Co., Pearl City Hops, Pepsi Co. of Jamestown, Rand Precision Machining, RxBenefits, SM Cristall, Shults Auto Group, Smokin’ Bear Cigars, Stuart Tool & Die, Tim Hortons, Twinstar Business Solutions, WCA Foundation, Weber Knapp, and The Resource Center’s executive management team. Lake Shore, Jamestown Container and Premier have been tournament sponsors every year of the event.

The following businesses donated items: ACME The Appliance Store, Bush–eSolutions Furniture, Chautauqua Golf Club, DFT Communications, Greater Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, Shorewood Country Club, Smokin’ Bear Cigars, South Hills Country Club, Southern Tier Brewing Company 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, Nicholas Bell, Daniel Bender, Elizabeth DeRosa, Adam Dimitri, Todd Frangione, R. Michael Goldman, Phil Ribaudo, Mike Roberts, 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, Mary Jo Hamilton, Ashley Hammond, Cindy Hitchcock, Denise Jones, Austin Mitchell, Sarah Pillittieri and Karen Silzle.

“The 26th annual TRC Golf Classic was one of our best events to date. The weather was perfect, and the golf course was in excellent condition,” Anderson said. “The TRC Golf Classic is only made possible with the financial commitment of sponsors and the dedication of many volunteers. Together, they make a difference in the lives of people in our community. Truly, it is an honor to lead such a successful and important event.”

A new element for this year’s event was a prize drawing for $1,000 in credit at Moon Brook’s pro shop and a lesson with Windoft, who is a member of the Professional Golf Association and the head pro at Moon Brook. More than 150 tickets were sold, generating in excess of $3,000, Anderson said.

He noted that while final figures have not been tabulated, this year’s tournament will generate about $45,000 after all expenses have been paid. This will bring the tournament’s cumulative net proceeds to more than $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.

Next year’s TRC Golf Classic is scheduled for July 24. Businesses interested in sponsoring the event can contact Anderson at 716-485-4671.