TOURNEY WINNERS - The 10th edition of the Highland Classic Charity GOlf Tournament was another resounding success as 31 teams came together at the Amherst Golf and Country Club Friday to raise $25,000 for the Cumberland Health Care Foundation. Tournament co-chair Dwight Jones (second from right) is shown with members of the winning team including: (from left) Rod Wood, Steve Grass and Gary Carter. Missing from the photo is Richard VanSnick.

September 2005 - Amherst Daily News

Highland Classic celebrates 10 years
By Darrell Cole

AMHERST – For 10 years members of the golfing community and area businesses have been coming together to raise money to support the work of the Cumberland Health Care Foundation.

Friday was no different as 31 teams raised around $25,000 (gross amount) during the 10th anniversary Highland Classic Charity Golf Tournament.

"It went very well," tournament co-chair Dwight Jones said following the daylong, 18-hole event that featured teams from local businesses and drug companies. "We would like to believe that everyone had a good time on the course while supporting the mission of the foundation."

While the final tally has yet to be tabulated, Jones said the money raised on Friday should help push the total raised over 10 years near the $250,000 mark - a milestone that should be passed next year.

Teams gathered for a group shot before heading out on the course at the AMherst Golf and Country Club with the action beginning with a shotgun start at 1 p.m.

"The weather was very good and that helped get everyone in the mood to have some fun and while there was a lot of fun competition, everyone was aware of the reason we were there," Jones said. "The foundation has done a lot of excellent work supporting both the former hospital, Highland View, and the new regional hospital. Events such as the Highland Classic go a long way towards furthering the foundation's mission of providing the best health care possible by purchasing necessary equipment, supporting the volunteer coordinator's position at the hospital and the bursary program."

A number of fund competitions were held during the event including closest to the pin, straightest drive and longest drive. While there were a pair of $25,000 prizes and two cars up for grabs for anyone who scored a hole-in-one, no one scored any aces.

Jones credited the first chair Frank Barteaux for laying the groundwork 10 years for what has become a successful fundraiser for the foundation. It was Barteaux who came up with the idea of holding a golf tournament to raise funds for the new hospital and the benefits that continue to come from the event are a result of Barteaux's vision and the efforts of members of the organizing committee, including his co-chair, Marsh Fox.

Jones also credited foundation staff Jodi Swan and Kelly Hurley for their efforts while he thanked sponsors and the other members of the organizing committee including Garry Stack, Gary Tower, John Covert, Dr. Scott Bowen, Paul Ramsay, Dave Wood and Nora Doucette.

The tourney co-chair also thanked former premier and foundation chair Roger Bacon for conducting the silent auction, which raised several thousand dollars for the foundation.