golf

Photo: Top golfers in the Arc of Genesee Orleans 42^nd Annual Lullo Memorial Tournament include, from left, Mark State, Tina Lambert, Bruce Briggs, Karen Percarsi and Bill Kusmierski. Not pictured is winner Paul Barton, who scored 81.

Submitted photos and press release:

Golfers, tennis players and bocce players were urged to stay hydrated as Arc of Genesee Orleans 42^nd Annual Lullo Memorial Tournament kicked off Monday at Stafford Country Club.

“It was one of our hottest days ever – just sweltering,” said Arc’s Sandy Konfederath, who has helped coordinate the tournament since 1993. “The biggest challenge was keeping our beverages iced at four key areas at the course. Our volunteers are amazing!”

The 2018 charity event included 102 golfers, with 39 people playing bocce and 12 in the tennis division.

GOLF

In golf play, Paul Barton’s 81 earned him top honors in the low gross category followed by Mark State with 82 and Jan Witkowski, 83. Tina Lambert, a longtime tournament supporter, shot a 93 winning low gross for women.

In low net, Bruce Briggs placed first with a 62. Also placing were Paul Mayer, 65; Greg Strauss, 66 and Terry Sprow, 67. Low net for women went to Karen Percarsi, 72 and Bill Kusmierski won with 71 in the blind bogey classification.

This year’s hole-in-one prize on 8 was a 2019 Jeep Cherokee Limited, courtesy of Castilone Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Unfortunately, no one shot an ace to drive away with the vehicle.

In other on the course contests, Jesse Luxon won longest drive on 7 and Bob Gorenflo, closest to the line on 15. In the closest to the pin contests, Nathan Schreib won a golf bag, courtesy of C.H. Wright on 8 (7’4”); Sam Serpe earned first prize on 12 (3’ 3 ½”) with Zach Fuller second (5’ 11”) and Ed Shultz third (11’8”). Greg Strauss won a Schwinn bicycle, donated by Adam Miller Toy & Bike in the top prize on 14 (13’1”).

BOCCE

In bocce, Tracy Sutherland, Lucine Kauffman and Fran Porpiglia, the only three-person team beat nine other four-person teams to come out on top.

TENNIS

On the tennis courts, first place team honors went to Steve Clemm and Jerry Reinhart. Second place team went to Steve Rumery and Marjorie Fulmer. Jerry Reinhart also earned top score in the tennis division.

SPONSORS

Gold sponsors were Turnbull Heating & Air-Conditioning, Graham Corporation, MTE Turf Equipment Solutions/Tom & Lynn Houseknecht, Relph Benefit Advisors and Tompkins Bank of Castile /Insurance Agencies/ Financial Advisors. Silver sponsors were: The Batavia Daily News, Yasses Trucking & Construction. The Bonadio Group, Alan & Cathy Barcomb, Hoffman, Hanafin & Associates, In Memory of Ralph Houseknecht Sr., Castilone Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Parkview Health Services, Genesee Valley PennySaver and The Insurance Center.

Also supporting the event were nine golf sponsors, three tennis sponsors, six bocce sponsors, five cart sponsors and nine friend of Arc sponsors.

Door prizes, silent auction and basket raffle items were donated by dozens of area businesses and community members. The winner of the $1,000 cash drawing was Ken Degnan with ticket number 11853.

Funds raised benefit programs and services for people with disabilities served by Arc of Genesee Orleans. The tournament is named in memory of Danny Lullo, a local businessman who came up with the idea to hold a tournament to benefit Arc programs and services for people with disabilities in our community. The tournament is the longest-running charity event at the local private country club.

CHAIRS

Ed Carney is the event chairman. Deb Fischer chairs bocce and Peggy Lamb chairs tennis.

Below photo below: The only three-person bocce team won in the Arc of Genesee Orleans 42^nd Annual Lullo Memorial Tournament. From left, Tracy Sutherland, Lucine Kauffman and Fran Porpiglia beat out nine other four-person teams to win the bocce tournament.

Submitted photo of Batavia resident and ardent local golfer Carolynn Taylor.

It's been hot lately and this past week was especially sweltering. Most octogenarians sensibly parked themselves near thrumming air conditioners and waited for things to cool down.

But not 81-year-old Carolynn Taylor. In fact, the Batavia resident played golf, her favorite sport, last Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Granted it was evening time when she did so, but it was still very uncomfortable for many people half her age.

Such is her athleticism and conditioning from regularly hitting the links for more than 60 years.

Taylor plays to win and the three other "girls" in her foursome do that a lot in local tournaments.

Her estimated handicap nowadays is 26.

She came to our attention a week ago when a couple of her friends told us about her recent hole-in-one. We called and confirmed this with her Friday afternoon.

"I was just shocked," she said. "You have to have a good shot, but the rest of it is just luck."

It was actually the third time she's been that lucky. In addition to the hole-in-one on #12 at Terry Hills two weeks ago, she got one on #22 two years ago, also at Terry Hills, and another in Wellsboro, Pa., several years ago at the Tyoga Country Club.

According to the U.S. Golf Association, the odds of the average golfer hitting a hole-in-one are 12,500 to 1.

Asked what she got for her latest feat, she said "Nothing. I got to buy everybody a drink!"

Terry Hills, the 27-hole, 72-par championship public golf course on former farmland on Clinton Street Road, is her favorite.

"It's spectacular," she said. "They take such good care of the landscaping and the greens. You never see any weeds."

Taylor plays in three women's leagues there. She also regularly participates in a trio of local tournaments for charity: Ricky Palermo's Golf Tournament to Cure Paralysis; Genesee Cancer Assistance Golf & Bocce Tournament; and the Leadership Genesee Golf & Bocce Tournament.

She says her foursome has won the women's division in the Ricky Palermo outing every year for several years.

If you are competing against them, that sinking feeling must sink in pretty quickly.

• 18 holes of golf at BCC with cart
• Grilled lunch with draft beer and soda at registration
• Beverage service throughout the tournament including beer specials
• Buffet Dinner
• Prizes, Skins and 50/50
• Giveaways and goody bags for all!

GRAND PRIZE: Three-night stay at Captain Pip's Marina & Hideaway, with one-day boat rental and snorkeling for two from Spirit Snorkeling, in beautiful Marathon, Fla.!

Send payment via check or credit card for tournament registration and/or hole sponsorship -- with golfers' names and/or organization and contact person, addresses, emails and phone numbers -- to:

Alex's Place

c/o  Colleen Kemp

8322 Park Place

Batavia, NY 14020

(FAX: 585-219-4303)

(If paying by credit card, include name on card, card number, expiration date, amount to be charged on paper with your signature.)

Matty

Matthew Gray
Alex's Place
Managing Partner

Buffalo Brothers
Marketing Manager

Batavia Country Club was filled with players in the annual fundraiser for Genesee Cancer Assistance yesterday afternoon (6-29). Many golf and bocce teams helped support the event to raise funds for charity.

The sponsors, volunteers and door prize donors from local and regional area businesses were a huge part of the success. 

This year’s honorary chairpersons were Deb and Dan Fischer, who are pictured below with Sue Underwood, executive director of the local charity.

Genesee County’s local radio station WBTA (FM 100.1 / AM 1490) in Batavia is co-owned by the Fischers, who are actively involved in the community and longtime supporters of Genesee Cancer Assistance.

The couple serves on many organizational club boards and committees and co-chair the annual bocce tournament. 

Supporting the event helps offset expenses for cancer patients in Genesee County such as prescriptions and medical co-payments. Other services available to cancer patients who apply for assistance include a support group, and the Simply Beautiful wig and makeup program.

Team Winners:

Bocce – Sue Schuler, Katie Neff, Susie Ott and Scott Neff (pictured below)

Women’s score of 70 – Wendy Danisewski, Patti Darch, Brenda Galliford, Pat O’Brien

Men’s score of 61 – Jesse Meyer, Tyler Durkin, Tarek Jaboli, Joe Rosati

Mixed score of 74 – Willis Litter, Matthew Delre, Vincent Strollo, Carol Grasso

To make a donation or learn more about the program go to: geneseecancerassistance.com or call (585) 345-0417.

Today, Terry Hills hosted the annual Jim Kelly Golf Celebrity Classic, a fundraiser created by the Buffalo Bills great to help support several children's' charities in Western New York.

Above Dean Cain, who played for the Buffalo Bills for a short time before launching an acting career that has included a role as Superman, talks with his golf partners for the tournament.

Dean Cain on the tee.

Willie Hutch Jones with fans. Jones played for the San Diego Clippers in the early 80s. He's originally from Buffalo and for the past 30 years has been director of the Willie Hutch Jones Educational & Sports Programs in Buffalo. The program's mission: "... to provide every child, at no cost, equal opportunities to engage in the highest quality program and to offer character building activities through academics, sports, and the arts."

Thurman Thomas

Thurman Thomas with his golf partners.

Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, former Dallas Cowboys receiver, signs a Buffalo Bills cap for Luke Gutman.

LPGA professional golfer Cindy Miller.

Danielle Rotondo with actor Dennis Haskins.

Local golfers T.J. Woodward, Ray Tortorice, Tim Woodword, and Matt Meyer, with former Bills player Ed Rutkowski (center).

Danielle Rotondo with ESPN's broadcasting legend Chris Berman.

Chris Berman.

When Terry Hills Golf Course built the 14th hold more than 30 years ago, the green, on one of the course's signature holes, was mostly surrounded by water. To provide a bridge to the green, two telephone polls were placed across the water.

In the three decades that passed, the weather did its work on the wood, so last summer the bridge was removed.

This year a new bridge was installed, and with Jim Kelly on hand to cut the ribbon, it was officially opened.

Top photo: Mary Brown, Casey Brown, Danielle Rotondo, Jessica Ecock-Rotondo, Ellen Simkulet and Nick Rotondo.

Below, two photos provided by Terry Hills. First, Tom Brown walking across the telephone polls when first placed over the water. Second, Casey Brown walking across the first beam placed for the new bridge.

The sixth annual Batavia Football Golf Outing will be held on Saturday, July 21, at Batavia Country Club. It is located at 7909 Batavia Byron Road, Batavia.

Cost is $90 per golfer / $360 per foursome.

There's a shotgun start format starting at 8 a.m.; registration is 7:15-7:45 a.m.

Price includes:

• Batavia Blue Devils football goodie bag
• 18 holes of golf with cart
• Beverages
• Hot dog/beverage at the turn
• Dinner
• Raffles to follow

Questions? Contact Brennan Briggs at 409-5557.

If you would like to sponsor a hole or make a donation for the raffle, please contact Brennan Briggs.

Payment and registration is due by July 13. Please provide names of players and preferred T-shirt size.

Make checks payable to: Blue Devils Touchdown Club.

Mail to:

Brennan Briggs

8 Woodland Drive

Batavia, NY 14020

An Amateur Athletic Union youth basketball club -- WNY Rebels -- will host a golf tournament on Saturday, Aug. 11, at Batavia Country Club.

It is located at 7909 Batavia Byron Road, Batavia.

Straight Tee times starting at 9:45 a.m. until 11:15 a.m.

The first fully paid teams will be accepted this year.

Cost is $75 per golfer, or $300 per (four-person) team and includes 18 holes of golf with cart, a hot dog or hamburger with beverage at the turn, and dinner afterward. 

Dinner is a 1/2 BBQ chicken with all the fixings. Golfers also get a T-shirt.

There will also be a closet-to-the-pin challenge and a longest-drive challenge.

"This four-man scramble will be best ball."

Please join us for a day of fun!

There will also be a 50/50 and basket raffles.

If you have questions, please contact: Aaron McFollins at (585) 993-7309; or Otis Thomas at (585) 993-0244.

Mail checks to:

WNY Rebels c/o Otis Thomas 

46 Tracy Ave., Batavia NY 14020

In a close non-league golf matchup Batavia Blue Devils beat Elba Central Lancers 263-270 at Batavia Country Club yesterday. Teagan Monahan and Bryce Reigel scored a 49 to lead the Devils, while Elba's Ben Pflaumer scored a 44 for Elba.

While there may still be flurries in the air and icy sidewalks, the Alumni Affairs Office at Genesee Community College is thinking about golf!

Registration is now open for the third annual Cougar Classic Scholarship Scramble scheduled for Monday, July 23, at the Stafford Country Club, 8873 Morganville Road (Route 237) in Stafford.

The Cougar Classic Scholarship Scramble allows up to 36 foursomes for the 18-hole event at the esteemed Stafford Country Club. Sign-in starts 11:30 a.m. with lunch available, and golfers tee off in "shotgun" style at 12:30 p.m. 

Registration is $125 per golfer and includes 18 holes of golf, a golf cart, all beer and nonalcoholic beverages during play, lunch and dinner with a cash bar, and much more!

To join the event for dinner only is $25.

Most importantly, all proceeds go directly to GCC Student Scholarship Program, making higher education possible for deserving students in our community.

The golfer registration form is also available online here.

Additional opportunities to sponsor GCC scholarships are available at a number of levels ranging from $100 to $3,000.

Sponsorships for golf games, including a putting contest, longest drive, closest to the pin, and beat the pro and other in-kind support efforts are also being accepted.

A sponsorship sign-up form with all donation details is available here and should be sent to Jennifer Wakefield at jgwakefiled@genesee.edu to reserve a sponsorship level.

Press release:

Chapin International will be hosting its 11^th Annual Chapin Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 11, at Terry Hills Golf Course in Batavia.

Chapin has proudly selected Justice for Children as its charity to support this year. As in the past all funds collected will go directly to the charity.

Please join us this year supporting Justice for Children by a donation, sponsorship or participation. The tournament provides everyone an opportunity to contribute to this truly amazing charity.

Justice for Children was selected out of several other local charities by Chapin's Golf Committee. Many of you may not even know or have heard of Justice for Children. That is a good thing that you never have had a reason to need the services provided. The services are every discreet, provided to protect the privacy of the children in need. All services are free.

The golf tournament is modestly priced at $75 and includes 18 holes of golf with cart, lunch, and dinner. Shotgun start is at 1 p.m.

Every person will receive a prize. Opportunities will be available for chances to win a car in the Hole-in-One contest.

Three local car dealerships -- Ken Barrett, Castilone, and Toyota of Batavia -- offer cars for the contest. All participants will have two opportunities during the tournament to win.

Max Pies Furniture in Batavia will be again offering a lounge chair to the winner of the putting contest held during registration hours before the tournament starts.

Longest drive, closest to pin, and closest to the line will also be available for all during the event. Everyone at all skill levels will have a chance to win. Mulligans and Skins will be offered as well.

Please go to www.chapincharitygolf.com for registration or sponsorship opportunities.

Early registration is advised to avoid missing out, our event fills to capacity quickly.

For any questions or information contact Norm Hubbard, tournament director at nhubbard@chapincharitygolf.com or call/text 409-7575.

About Justice for Children

The Justice for Children GLOW Foundation is honored to be the beneficiary of the 11^th annual Chapin Charity Golf Tournament. The mission of the Justice for Children GLOW Foundation Inc. is to provide philanthropic support to enhance the work of the Justice for Children Advocacy Center and multidisciplinary team throughout Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming (GLOW) counties.

The support provided by Chapin will assist us in meeting our goal of ensuring that every child who comes to the Justice for Children Advocacy Center receives the care and support necessary to begin their journey toward healing.

Since opening in 1998, the Justice for Children Advocacy Center has served more than 2,500 children and their families who have been impacted by physical or sexual abuse. In 2018 alone, 287 children and their families benefitted from the services available at the Justice for Children Advocacy Center. These services include victim advocacy, forensic interviewing, mental health counseling, medical exams, and multidisciplinary case review.

The proceeds from the Charity Golf Tournament will be used to replace existing, outdated medical equipment with a state-of-the-art imaging system to be used on site at the Justice for Children Advocacy Center’s Batavia office. This equipment will improve our highly skilled medical providers’ ability to identify, diagnose, and document injuries that have been inflicted upon children who have been physically or sexually abused.

Additionally, this system will create opportunities for continuing education and peer review for our medical providers, allowing them to keep their skills sharp and up to date with current best practices. The welcome addition of this equipment will aid us in our goal of ensuring that all the children we help receive the highest quality care possible.

Submitted photo and press release:

The 17th Annual Van Hulburt Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit Crossroads House took place on Thursday, Aug.17^th at the Batavia Country Club.

The tournament is hosted by the Hesperus Lodge No. 837 in Bergen and the Hulburt family. Van Hulburt was an educator and leader in the Bergen community and his family dedicates the proceeds from the tournament each year through the Lodge of which Van was a member.

The tournament is the longest running outside fundraiser for Crossroads House and has raised over $80,000 since its inception.

A check in the amount of $7,300 was presented to Crossroads House on Sept. 7^th at the Lodge.

Pictured from left are: Marty Krause, tournament chairman; Helen Hulburt, wife of Van Hulburt; and Jeff Allen, Crossroads House executive director.

The GC Sheriff's Employees Association Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, Sept. 23, at Terry Hills Golf Course in Batavia.

Cost is $75 per person and includes green fees, cart, lunch, dinner, awards and prizes.

Registration and lunch starts at 11 a.m.

Shotgun start for golf at noon.

Sponsor a tee or green or $100; sponsor a deputy for $375 -- includes tee/green sings & 1 foursome.

Proceeds go to help support the GCSEA Fundraiser Account and Veterans One-stop Center of WNY Inc.

The golf tournament is open to everyone. Come enjoy a great day of fun and golf; help support our veterans, the GCSEA and the nonprofits is helps throughout the year.

Terry Hills is located at 5122 Clinton Street Road.

For more information, contact Norman Itjen at (585) 409-4540 or email  nitjen@co.genesee.ny.us

The Ricky Palermo Spinal Injury Golf Tournament is today at Terry Hills.

As part of today's event, there was a golf ball drop in honor of Joe Fragnito, who passed away this past year.

Tonight, there's a dinner, a silent auction, and regular auction.

Info and photos submitted by Darcy Catino.

Joe's daughter Jamie Peskor and Ricky's sister Patty.

Summer is here. Mini Golf is, too. Terry Hills Miniature Golf Course opens Friday, June 16th! Excitement for all ages as you putt your way over ramps, bridges, dips & other fun obstacles in pursuit of those Hole-In-Ones! Bring Dad this Father’s Day and he plays for FREE (and if you let him win, that’s OK, too).

Make it a day and stop into the restaurant before or after you play for a delicious lunch, dinner or Sunday Brunch! Click here for our menus (Restaurant Hours: Mon-Fri 11-9, Sunday Brunch 10-2). Terry Hills is located at 5122 Clinton Street Road, Route 33, Batavia, NY. (585) 343-0642

The Jim Kelly Celebrity Golf Classic is underway at Terry Hills today after Kelly delivered welcoming remarks and shared the rules of the tournament.

The annual tournament benefits the Kelly for Kids Foundation, which provides grants to area nonprofits that assist children.

The Elba Lancers Golf Team is the Class C Section V champion after scoring a 172 on Thursday at the Livingston Country Club, beating out seven other teams, including second-place Honeoye, which carded a 187.

In the rain-shortened championship, Henry Pflaumer shot a 40, while Joe Lane, Ben Pflaumer, and CJ Gottler all had 44. The Lancers added to their Genesee Region Division II Championship along with Ben Pflaumer's Individual Class C Sectional Title. Only three other golfers in the field shot 44 or lower.

The team is coached by Mike Cintorino.

Submitted photo and information.

Press release:

Hackers for Helicopters, a fundraiser for Mercy Flight Inc., will be held on Monday, June 5 at Batavia Country Club, located at 7909 Batavia-Byron Road in Batavia.

Cost is $100 per golfer and includes:

-- 18 holes of golf with cart

-- Lunch and beverages

-- Dinner and a one-hour open bar

-- Commemorative gifts

-- Door prizes and more

Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. and the shotgun start is 11:45 a.m.

Cocktail hour begins at 5 p.m., followed by dinner and awards.

Mercy Flight Inc. is an independent, nonprofit 501 (c)(3) charitable organization that provides air and ground medical transportation for those in need.

For sponsorship information, please call (716) 626-5808 or visit www.mercyflight.org

Press release:

The 2017 Cougar Classic Golf Tournament is just a few months away and registration is now open for the second annual event scheduled for Monday, July 24, which will once again take place at the prestigious Stafford Country Club, 8873 Morganville Road, (Route 237) Stafford. With 88 golfers, 22 teams, 60 sponsors and tons of fun the inaugural event in 2016 raised approximately $25,000 for student scholarships!

The registration deadline is June 16, so don't wait until the last minute!

"We're looking forward to building on last year's success," Jerry Reinhart, who is returning as chair of the Cougar Classic Golf Tournament. Reinhart is member of GCC's Class of 1971, founder of Access Rentals and president of Reinhart Enterprises Inc.

"Although we saw a few raindrops last year, we're anticipating another day of quality golfing among friends and colleagues, and all for a great cause," Reinhart said. "As an alumnus myself, I can attest to the value a GCC degree and the important contribution the College makes to our community overall."

Up to 36 foursomes will once again take part in the 18-hole event, which tees off in "shotgun" style at 12:30 p.m. New this year will be a bocce tournament, welcoming more than just golfers to join the fun. Registration will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a light lunch available. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., participants are invited to attend dinner in the club house where a silent auction and prize drawings will conclude the event. Games including Skins, Beat the Pro, Longest Drive (Men's and Women's), Closest to the Pin and a Putting Contest add excitement to the day and gives everyone a chance to walk away with one of a number of prizes.

Sponsorships of all kinds are currently being sought to support the event and student scholarships. The sponsorship levels are: Platinum $3,000; Diamond/Dinner $2,000; Gold/Lunch $1,500; Silver/Beverage Cart Sponsor/$1,000; Titanium/Tee $500; and Bronze/Hole $100. In-kind support, golf games, and clever or creative sponsorships are also appreciated. The first gracious sponsor is the John W. Danforth Company, which pledged at the $1,000 Silver Level.

The cost per foursome is $500, or $125 per individual golfer. The cost to participate in the Bocce Tournament is $200 per team of four or $60 per individual player. For anyone interested in attending the event and supporting local students but cannot make the golf tournament, the dinner-only option is only $20 per person.

To receive a Cougar Classic printed invitation, participate as a golfer, bocce competitor, sponsor, volunteer or dinner guest, please contact Jennifer Zambito at (585) 343-0055, ext. 6265 or email the alumni office at alumni@genesee.edu. For further information, including golf and sponsorship registration and event updates, check out the Cougar Classic website at www.genesee.edu/home/offices/alumni/cougar-classic/.