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Photos: Golf in February at Terry Hills

By Howard B. Owens

The snowmobilers are pretty unhappy with winter in 2012 so far, but the golfers don't mind.

About 80 people showed up at Terry Hills today to get in a round on a course that is usually covered inches deep or more in snow this time of year.

"It's amazing," said Brandon Seifert, of Buffalo. "I can't believe it."

Seifert, above right, was with Matthew Olsen, in the cart, and Olsen said he was dubious when Seifert told him he got an email saying the course was open today.

"We golfed here in November and the conditions were a lot worse," Olsen said.

Colin Castile, of Amherst, was also golfing and enjoying the break from snowboarding while getting the chance to tune up his game before spring.

"It’s nice to have a place that’s relatively local that’s open right now," Castile said.

Photo: Black Friday? Bah-humbug. It was a perfect day for a round of golf

By Howard B. Owens

Rather than mob a mall, golf enthusiasts mobbed local golf courses the day after Thanksgiving to take advantage of unseasonably warm weather.

Lisa Fickel, director of marketing for Terry Hills, said the course buzzed like a spring day this morning with golf carts zipping all over the place.

Above, Tim Braunscheidel watches his shot fly down the first fairway at Terry Hills. Braunscheidel was out for a round of golf with his father, Dave and their friends Scott Gibson and Dan Grefreth.

GC Young Life seeks sponsors for annual Roy Hill Memorial Classic Golf Tournament

By Billie Owens

This information comes from Genesee County Young Life.

Genesee County Young Life is seeking sponsors for its annual Roy Hill Memorial Classic Golf Tournament on July 29 at Terry Hills.

Teams of four and hole sponsors are needed. Cost is $85 per golfer, and includes lunch and dinner with your golf. There are four levels of hole sponsorships: $100 -- Individual; $150 -- Bronze;  $200 -- Silver; and $300 -- Gold.

There will be a McCormack riding mid-mower tractor with front loader for a hole-in-one give away. A 32” Vizio HDTV will be raffled as First Prize and an Asus Netbook for Second Prize. Tickets will also be sold to win themed baskets.

Anyone interested in participating in the golf tournament or sponsoring a hole may e-mail acali815@gmail.com or call Genesee County Young Life at (585) 409-9735 or send donation to Genesee County Young Life at: P.O. Box 614, Bergen, NY 14416.

Young Life is a worldwide, faith-based organization that is active in Genesee County. It is not affiliated with any one church but, through clubs that meet in homes and camp at Saranac Lake, tries to reach the youth and give them hope in a world where there is a lot of chaos.

Some of the young people today need a friend to build a relationship with, and that is when trained leaders go into the schools have lunch with the students and befriend these young people. These leaders even attend the student’s sports and music events to build on the relationship.

The goal is to help young people in middle and high school to be able to have a week of camp experience and attend clubs for fun and to learn about God and what He did by giving His Son Jesus to die for people's sins. They typically come back from the camp experience saying it was one of the best weeks of their lives. The clubs help them build relationships with each other and have fun together. 

Genesee County Young Life has three major fundraisers throughout the year. In the Spring, we have an auction at the Byron Fire Hall that the Harris Wilcox family does gratis. In the Fall, there's a banquet at Bohn’s Restaurant and a speaker shares how Young Life has been a special part of that person’s life.

Summer's Roy Hill Memorial Classic Golf Tournament is named after the man responsible for starting of the golf tournament as a fundraiser. He had a real heart for the youth.

Photos: Annual Jim Kelly tournament at Terry Hills

By Howard B. Owens

That's QB legend Dan Marino in the midst of a group of some of Batavia's loveliest ladies. The women made it to the edge of the sixth fairway at Terry Hills for the sixth straight year during the Jim Kelly Celebrity Golf Tournament. As always, the ladies had brownies ready to lure celebraties so they could meet them, get some autographs and snap a few pictures.

I came across the group while searching for Jamie Farr.  

When I finally did meet up with Farr, after he finished the fifth hole, I introduced myself and all he seemed to hear was "web site" and started telling me all about his site. Dashed was my chance to chit-chat about MASH a little and part with, "See you in the funny papers."

Pictured above are (in no particular order) Margaret Perry, Kathy Leffel, Kate Martin, Barb Thurber, Donna Gillard, Joan Torres, Diane Burroughs, Jean Woodcook, Carrie Jones and Anne Barone.

Among the more than dozen celebs they met today were Marino, Jim Kelly, Ben Rothelisberger, Archie Manning and Chris Berman.

Lisa Nistico with Farr.

Mercy Flight Events

By Bill Schutt

Mercy Flight Events in Batavia

On Father’s Day June 19thMercy Flight will be hosting an Open House at our Batavia Base located at the Genesee County Airport from 9:00 until 2:00. Many local emergency service agencies, such as the Sheriff’s Department (child ID’s), NY State Police (rollover simulator), Lake Plains Community Health Care and Genesee County Emergency Management will be joining us. It will be a great day to bring dad out for pancakes at the Rotary Club Fly in Breakfast and then stop over and visit with Mercy Flight and local emergency responders.

In addition to the open house Mercy Flight in partnership with The Batavia Downs will be hosting the 1stannual Cars and Guitars for Mercy Flight event on July 9th. This all day event will feature a car and motorcycle show in the infield along with four great bands, The Buffalo Roadshow, the Trolls, The coupe de Villes and Savage Cabbage.  Great food will be available and all attendees (over 18) will receive $5 casino free play. Car show pre-registration is available online at www.mercyflight.org

To wrap up the summer Mercy Flight and The Batavia Downs will again be hosting the Hackers for Helicopters Golf outing.  This will be the 3rdyear for the event which will include Golfing at the Batavia Country Club and dinner at the Batavia Downs.

Mercy Flight greatly appreciates all the support we receive from the community, without which we could not provide the service that we do. Mercy Flight is always grateful of donations such as raffle baskets, door prizes, gift cards etc. to use at our fund raising events. Anyone wishing to donate can contact Bill Schutt the Batavia Base Outreach Coordinator at (585) 356-2926 or wschutt@mercyflight.org

GCC takes second in WNYAC golf tournament

By Howard B. Owens

Submitted by GCC Golf Coach Tom Tucker:

The GCC Golf team placed 2nd at the 2011 Western NY Athletic Conference Championship. Matt Ferdinand was named 1st Team All Star, Corey Kocent and Mark DeCook get the nod as 2nd Team All Stars.

On Saturday, the GCC Golf team competed in the Western NY Conference Championship at a soggy Willowbrook golf course in Lockport. On an unseasonably warm and sunny day, GCC finished second to MCC once again, as they posted a 323 score to MCC’s 299.

Matt Ferdinand, a second-year player at GCC, was named a WNYAC  First Team All Star with a fine score of 78, GCC’s Corey Kocent, a former Batavia High School standout, was named a Second Team All Star with an 80, and Mark DeCook shot a season low 81, which also got him onto the Second Team All Star squad. Kyle Harman rounded out GCC’s scoring with an 84, and Adam Bishop also competed for GCC.

The tournament medalist was MCC’s Anthony Colosi with a 73.

On Friday, the GCC team travelled to Highland Park GC in Auburn, NY, for the Cayuga CC Invitational.

GCC finished a disappointing fourth in an 11-team field shooting 331, as, to a man, they just couldn't seem to figure out the greens. Tee to green GCC played strong during tough conditions, but they left a higher finish on the short grass. Kyle Harman and Matt Ferdinand each shot 81, Corey Kocent shot 83, Alex Muench and Mark DeCook each shot 86, and Adam Bishop also participated.

MCC won the event with a score of 307, Onondoga CC finished second with 318, and Mohawk Valley finished third with a 323.

GCC plays Friday at the Corning CC Invitational at the Corning Country Club in Corning, NY, and on Sunday at the Tompkins Cortland CC  Invitational at the Elm Tree Golf Club in Cortland, NY.

Photo: GCC's Corey Kocent, former Batavia High standout golfer, blasts from a buried lie under the lip of a trap on hole # 4 at the Highland Park GC in Auburn, NY, during the Cayuga CC Invitational on Friday. Kocent got the shot up and down on his way to an 83.

Batavia Downs hosts golf tourney for Mercy Flight

By Daniel Crofts

Batavia Downs Casino will be hosting its second annual "Hackers for Helicopters" golf tournament from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The tourney will take place at the Terry Hills Golf Course, at 5122 Clinton St. Road in Batavia.

The proceeds will go to Mercy Flight Western New York. For more information -- including registration, cost, features, etc. -- go to:

Event Date and Time
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Deacons of First Presbyterian host golf tournament Aug. 7

By Billie Owens

Deacons of First Presbyterian Church Batavia are hosting a golf tournament on Aug. 7 at Batavia Country Club.

It is located at 7909 Batavia Byron Road. Registration for the scramble format begins at Noon. Tee time is 2 p.m. Cost is $65 per person and includes greens fee, cart, lunch and steak dinner.

Shot gun starts at 2 p.m. Indiviuals will be matched with incomplete teams. Hot dogs and drink will be served at the turn. There will be door prizes and a silent auction. Awards will be handed out at dinner.

Proceeds benefit Deacons' local outreach programs. For more information and to receive a registration form, contact the church office at 343-0505.

Golf equipment flea market at country club

By Billie Owens

This Saturday, June 12, there will be a golf equipment flea market at the Batavia Country Club in the picnic pavilion.

This free event will run, rain or shine, from noon to 5 p.m. and is open to the public.

Sellers simply show up with your equipment between 11:30 and 11:55 a.m. See Tom Tucker, BCC teaching pro, to get table display space as available. First come first served.

Bring junior, adult or miscellaneous golf equipment or training aids.

Private individuals only, no retail organizations or businesses.

The country club is located at 7909 Batavia-Byron Road.

Leadership Genesee Tees Off Annual Golf & Bocce Ball Tournament June 14

By Kimberly Amey

Leadership Genesee’s 7th Annual Golf & Bocce Ball Tournament is at 11:30 a.m. June 14 at Terry Hills Golf Course.  Gold sponsor of the tournament is Clark Patterson Lee. 

 

Teams may sign up for the four-person scramble that includes lunch, green fee, cart and buffet dinner for $100 per person by June 1st, $115 after June 1.   Registration for Bocce Ball is $50 per person and it includes lunch and dinner.  Dinner only is $30 per person. 

 

For team registration and sponsorship information, contact Leadership Genesee director, Peggy Marone at 343-3040 x 118, register on-line at www.leadershipgenesee.shutterfly.com or pick up a registration form at Cornell Cooperative Extension Genesee County, 420 East Main Street.

 

Leadership Genesee creates an experience promoting active leadership for Genesee County and is a program of Cornell Cooperative Extension that offers equal program and employment opportunities.

 

Sign up now for Leadership Genesee's Golf & Bocce Ball Tournament

By Kimberly Amey

Leadership Genesee’s 7th Annual Golf & Bocce Ball Tournament is at 11:30 a.m., Monday, June 14 at Terry Hills Golf Course. Gold Sponsor of the tournament is Clark Patterson Lee.

Now until June 1, teams may sign up for the four-person scramble that includes lunch, green fee, cart and buffet dinner for $100 per person. But after June 1, the price is $115. Registration for Bocce Ball is $50 per person and it includes lunch and dinner. Dinner only is $30 per person.

Event Date and Time
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On Friday GCC finished 3rd at MCC Invitational, but Saturday's weather curtailed local golf event

By Billie Owens

Submitted by GCC Golf team coach Tom Tucker:

The GCC Golf team competed in the GCC Invitational Tournament on Saturday, but the 10-team event was curtailed by rain and winds gusting up to 60 mph that would not allow golf balls to remain stationary on the greens as the day wore on.

Several early groups did finish, but no teams had complete scores.

Each team has six players maximum competing, and the low four scores count.

Individual medalist honors were awarded to Brian Whitbeck of Erie CC, who shot a 76 in the Men's division, and to Rae Mahon of Hudson Valley CC in the Women's Division.

Matt Ferdinand of GCC, the only GCC player able to finish, placed 2nd with an 80.

Roberta Terbuska competed in the Women's Individual division and placed 2nd.

On Friday at the MCC Invitational, GCC finished third in a seven-team field with a team score of 330. MCC won (308) followed by Erie CC (326).

Medalist was Ben Finn of MCC with a score of 76. Matt Ferdinand of GCC placed 8th with a score of 79 for his 2nd week in a row as low scorer for GCC.

Roberta Terbuska was Medalist in the Women's Individual division for GCC.

Competing in both events for GCC were: Jeff Marcy, Matt Ferdinand, Ryan Winchip, Mark DeCook, Alex Muench, Mike Estela, Chris McDonald and Roberta Terbuska.

The team departs for regionals at Cornell University's Cornell GC on Sunday, May 16.

Hole-in-one reported at Batavia Country Club

By Howard B. Owens

We received this from Mark Pflaumer:

Jim Hall of Barre shot a hole-in-one on the third hole at Batavia Country  Club this afternoon.  Witnessed by Rick Pcionek, Mark Pflaumer and Kevin  Bezon

Fourth Annual Seth Morrison Memorial Golf Tournament at Chestnut Hill

By Bob Martin

If you're looking for some fun this Sunday, June 7th, get three friends and come play in the "Fourth Annual Seth Morrison Memorial Golf Tournament".  We're playing at Chestnut Hill in Darien.  This is a beautiful course and one of the finest in Genesee County.  It's a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start with a "scramble" format.  Your team can post a score to rival "Tigers".  We'll start you off with a light lunch before golf and a Char-broiled steak afterwards, we'll cap it all off with a Chinese Auction after dinner.  Cost is $75.00 per golfer.

This tournament is in memory of Seth Morrison, a young man who died as a result of a house fire in Darien.  Proceeds benefit the "Field of Dreams" sports park in Alexander.

If you're interested, call me, Bob Martin, at 344-0202 or e-mail to rmartin68@rochester.rr.com.

Back on the course

By Brian Hillabush

Apparently, golf is just like riding a bike. 

I haven't been on a golf course in two years because of carpal tunnel in both wrists, so I've been missing the game that I've been playing since the age of 17. I had surgery over last summer and Dr. Hoy did a great job of getting my wrists in decent shape.

So I'm playing again this season and went out for my first time in a couple of years this afternoon, on a perfect day for golf.

I normally play at Terry Hills but didn't feel comfortable going out and getting my butt kicked on that course, so I headed out to Meadow Brook, and executive course on Woodland Drive in Batavia. It isn't very challenging and the greens definitely are not in good shape, but it was a good starting place for me.

I had about the most discouraging start imaginable as I blasted my 7-iron well right of the green on the 156-yard par-3 first hole. I hit a little runner up to the green and it came up just short. Luckily I two-putted for the bogey.

The third hole is the second longest on the course and the first chance I had to hit driver. I was expecting the worst and shocked myself, hitting a 240-250 yard drive right down the middle of the fairway. But, a three-putt gave me my third consecutive bogey.

I continued to hit my driver well and got my first par of the season on the 241-yard fifth hole. I was getting confidence and knew that a good drive would give me a shot at a par or even a birdie. 

A big swing led to a perfect drive, just over the bunker to the left of the green. The chip was a little long because the pin was right up on the left side of the green. A couple of putts later and I had a par.

I followed that up with another big drive and par on the sixth hole. Then things went to hell.

My drive on seven was pushed to the right, directly under a small tree. I couldn't get the next shot on the green and took a bogey.

At this point my left wrist was starting to get tender and starting to swell up a bit, but it was a mental mistake on the eighth hole. I was lined up wrong and pulled my 9-iron on the 122-yard par-3. I chipped onto the green and then three-putted for a double bogey.

A pitching wedge on the 103-yard ninth hole went long and I finished up with a bogey.

So after two years without a swing, I'm pretty pleased with an 8-over par 41 for nine holes. And best of all, it was a great day for golf.

Genesee County veterans to receive donation of golf equipment

By Howard B. Owens

Press Release:

A local non-profit organization, Bunkers In Baghdad, is donating golf equipment to VA Western New York
 
Healthcare System, Recreational Therapy program, 3495 Bailey Avenue. The organization’s President, Joe Hanna, will present the equipment to Interim Director, David J. West and veterans, Wednesday, March 18 at  10 a.m. in Veterans Park; rain location room 301.  In addition,

Veterans will have the opportunity to try the equipment during a lesson being presented at the donation site by local golf professional, Chuck Antonuccio. 
 
Good nutrition and exercise is an integral part of good health. VA encourages Veterans to keep active for prevention of disease and maintaining optimal health.

Congratulations, Stephanie Lapple!!!

By Notre Dame

 

Stephanie Lapple ’10, daughter of Dr. William and Angela Lapple of Le Roy did it again!

Stephanie was recently selected [for the 2nd consecutive year] to the Democrat and Chronicle’s 2008 All-Greater Rochester’s Girls Golf Team!
 
She earned this prestigious recognition by recording the lowest scoring average in Section V competition this past Fall while averaging 39.75 during her eight regular season matches!
 
Stephanie repeated as City-Catholic champion for the 2nd straight year carding a 42 at Shadow Lake and finished tied for 6th at sectionals to earn her 2nd straight trip to the New York State Meet in Syracuse this coming June!
 
A member in good standing of the Notre Dame Chapter of the National Honor Society, Stephanie also qualified for New York State Scholar-Athlete recognition during the Fall season with a 97.47% classroom average! She is a class representative to Student Senate and a member of Concert Band and our Fighting Irish Varsity Girls Basketball team.
 
Stephanie lists LPGA professional Paula Creamer as her favorite golfer. At the rate she is going, she may be competing against her some day in the not too distant future!
 
Congratulations, again, on a job well done Stephanie, both on the course and in the classroom! We are all proud of your accomplishments at ND!
 

Notre Dame's Lapple is AGR

By Brian Hillabush

Notre Dame junior Stephanie Lapple has been named to the All-Greater Rochester team by the Democrat & Chronicle.  

Lapple had the lowest scoring average in Section 5 this past fall, averaging 39.75 during eight golf matches. She tied for sixth at sectionals with a 90, earning a trip to states. She also won the City-Catholic qualifier with a 42.

Gerber 27th at McDaniel

By Brian Hillabush

 Oakfield-Alabama graduate John Gerber finished in a tie for 27th out of 52 golfers at the McDaniel Fall Invitational this past weekend.

The tournament featured 10 teams from the East coast and the St. John Fisher College freshman helped his team to a sixth place finish.

Gerber shot an 82 in the first round and an 81 in the second, finishing 21 strokes behind medalist Robert Womble from Washington and Lee College, who shot even par at Piney Branch Golf Club in Hampstead, Md.

You can see the complete tournament results here. 

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