July, 2004

Hospital foundation gearing up for classic
by Darrell Cole, The Citizen

AMHERST - Over the last eight years the Highland Classic Charity Golf Tournament has raised in excess of $183,000 to support the Cumberland Health Care Foundation in its mission of improving the quality of health care for area residents.

What started as a fundraiser to support the Above & Beyond Campaign to build a new regional hospital for Cumberland County will surpass another major milestone next Friday, Aug. 13, when the ninth annual tournament passes the total contribution over the $200,000 mark.

"It's going to be a very special day for the foundation because it will mark another milestone on what has been an amazing journey for this charity golf tournament," foundation managing director Jodi Swan said Tuesday.

The second largest annual findraiser for the foundation, behind the Light The Way Campaign at Christmas, the Highland Classic will begin with registration at 10:30 a.m. at the Amherst Golf Club, which is once again donating the use of the course for the day.

New club pro Frank McShane will put on a quick clinic for novice golfers at 11am before heading out to their assigned tee locations at 12:45pm for a 1pm shotgun start.

To date, 30 teams have signed up for the tournament that wraps up with a steak barbecue and a live auction, featuring Roger Bacon and numerous items up for grabs including a weekend at Pictou Lodge.

As in other years, numerous prizes can be won through various competitions on the course highlighted by a quartet of hole-in-one prizes including cars from Amherst Toyota and Amherst Chrysler and $25,000 cash prizes from Barnes Insurance and RBC Royal Bank.

Organizers are taking full advantage on what's supposed to be the unluckiest day of the year and they hop it will be anything but lucky for participants with numerous games of chance and special prizes among with other fun competitions such as closest to the pin and most accurate drive.

The Amherst Daily News, the sister paper to The Citizen, is acting as presenting sponsor this year while Poly Cello and Pfizer are platinum sponsors along with ING and the Amherst Golf Club.

Silver sponsors include Astra Zeneca, GlaxoSmith Kline and Roche-Baer while other supporters include Hicks LeMoine law office, the Cumberland Shrine Club, Oxford Area Lions Club, William Nycum and Associates and others.