TRC Golf Classic enjoys another successful year

Golfers didn’t let cool and windy conditions keep them from enjoying a great day on the course at the 23^rd annual TRC Golf Classic, held May 20 at Moon Brook Country Club near Jamestown.

Winners of the 2019 TRC Golf Classic pose together while holding The Gregg Bender Cup: from left are Bill Brothers, Tony Brothers, Joe Fire, and Eric Fire.

Twenty-four foursomes competed in the four-ball, two-best-ball format. Winning the tournament was the team of Anthony Brothers, William Brothers, Eric Fire, and Joe Fire. For finishing first, they each received a print of a painting made by a person with intellectual and developmental disabilities in The Resource Center’s Creations Art Program. They also will have their names engraved in 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.

Once the tournament concluded, the traditional Special Olympics putting contest took place. Twenty-two athletes participated, with each Special Olympian getting three chances to make a lengthy putt. Three golfers hit a ball into the cup (and several others came close), requiring a putt-off among the trio to determine the winner. In the end, TJ McDonnell put his putt closest to the hole, so he won the competition.

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

Again this year, Lake Shore Savings was the Tournament Sponsor. Other major sponsors were KeyBank, the Winifred Crawford Dibert Foundation, HM Insurance Group, Premier Consulting Associates, ALSTAR EMS, Barclay Damon, Brand and Oppenheimer, Jamestown Container Companies, Lutheran Jamestown, The Post-Journal, and Support Enterprises, Inc. Other sponsors included Artone, Buffalo Hospital Supply, Collaborative Educational Solutions, Conrad Office Products, Courier Capital, SM Cristall, Dahlstrom Roll Form, Enterprise Fleet Management, Evans Agency, FSC Systems, Fredonia Beaver Club, Graf Realty, Jamestown Awning, Jamestown Macadam, Johnston Paper, Kinley Corporation, LaBella Associates, Lynn Development Group, M.J. Foley Co., Pharmacy Benefits Dimension, Phillips Lytle, Saxton, Kocur & Associates, Shults Auto Group, Stuart Tool & Die, Truck-Lite, USI Insurance, Weber Knapp, and The Resource Center’s Executive Management Team. Lake Shore, Jamestown Container and Premier have been tournament sponsors for each of the event’s 23 years.

TJ McDonnell holds the jacket he received for winning the Special Olympics putting contest, while posing with Tournament Chair Chris Anderson.

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, Daniel Bender, Adam Dimitri, Todd Frangione, R. Michael Goldman, Esq., Mary Johnson, Mike Kaye, Ron Sellers, Bruce Stanton, Jason Stronz, Timur Tyra, Tad Wright, Esq., and Gary Yager.

Also critical to the tournament’s success were the contributions of its volunteers: Abby Adam, Kevin Anderson, Kayla Bohall, Theresa Butts, Ashley Hammond, Michelle Pattison, Cindy Phillips, Karen Silzle, Jennifer Yost, and Jane Young.

“Even though the weather was less than desirable, our 23^rdaAnnual TRC Golf Classic was yet another wonderful success,” said Chris Anderson, who in addition to being the Tournament Chair is TRC’s Marketing & Development Project Manager and Internet Systems/Ecommerce Administrator. “For the third straight year, we anticipate we will clear $50,000 in net proceeds. That brings our 23-year total to over $1.6 million.  The success of this tournament would not be possible without our generous and committed sponsors as well as the many volunteers who give countless hours to help make a difference in people’s lives.”

We thank everyone who made the 2019 TRC Golf Classic a success! Mark your calendars for next year’s tournament, which will take place May 18.

These are the athletes who competed in the Special Olympics putting contest.