Junior golf was once again the big winner in the 11th annual Nan Ryan Invitational, held July 26, at the Lake Estes Golf Course.
A total of 25 teams, coming from Texas, Iowa, California and many Colorado cities, participated in the event. The weather was great and the course was in excellent condition, given the problems it has undergone because of flooding and ground water.
The tournament raised $2,054 for the Estes Park Junior Golf Program, bringing the total this tournament has donated to the program to $19,293.
“The Nan Ryan Invitational is one of the largest fundraising event that keeps our golf program going,” said Mark Miller, one of the founders of the program.
“Mark Miller, PGA golf professional at the Estes Park Golf Course, and his staff do an outstanding job with the juniors in this area,” said Ryan. The money raised helps to buy golf equipment for the participants in the junior program and assists with scholarships for those who need financial assistance. Some 150 youngsters participated in the 2014 program.
“We are very grateful to the 98 golfers who took the time on Saturday to play and support the Estes Park Junior Golf Program,” said Ryan. “We are especially pleased that eight juniors played in the event”.
Special thanks go to Miller and his staffs at both Estes Park golf courses, as well as to Marsha Sypher and Pat and Paul Krause who handled registration, and to Judith Praul, Ollie Smith and Diane Phillips who handled the food for the players.
Thanks also to Megan Miller who did the scoresheets and scorecards, to Carol Prince and Tandy Brown who kept play moving, to Jim Tierney and Larry Miller who were marshals on the course, to Safeway who helped with the sandwiches, and to the Caramel Corn Shop for the very tasty caramel corn!
The team of Colette, Paul, Jocelyn and Nicole Thompson placed first in the Mixed event with a 6-under-par 25, having tied with the team of Austin Logan, Zach Eitzen, Alli Smith and Kendra Bellman and winning in a one-hole scorecard playoff. The Thompson team has been a winner many years in the tournament, starting as a Junior team.
The Junior team of Jonathan Pass, Liz Saint, and junior golfers Caleb Husovich and Josh Husovich, took top honors in the Junior Division with a 34. This was Caleb and Josh’s first tournament – what a way to start a career!!!
In the Men’s Division, the team of Dave Coleson, Alan Jackson, Clark Gibbons and Eldon Kifer won with a 2-under-par 29, while the Women’s team of Jan Alderman, Hulda Bachman-Neeb, Carrie Logan and Ruth Moser took first in that division with a 33.
In the Long Drive Contests, Austin Logan won Mens, Nicole Thompson won Womens, Megan Miller won Junior Girls and Josh Husovich won Junior Boys.
Clark Gibbons and Jean Scimone were winners in the Closest to the Pin contests.
In the unique putting contest, the winners were Lanty McCartney (Mens), Pat Vorreiter (Womens), Caleb Husovich (Junior Boys) and Bree Wilkerson (Junior Girls). Hulda Bachman-Neeb, Bob Johnson, J.D. McCowan and Charly Raymond came closest to guessing the correct number of tees in the jar.
Door Prize winners were Peter Ambler, Rene Archambault, Bonnie Beach, Kendra Bellman, Bud Bonetti, Linda Bowie, Mare Bradley, Sharon Bushlack, Jeff Cahill, Dave Clelland, Becky Coughlin, Judi Cunningham, Jim Duell, Zack Eitzen, Carol and Tom Evered, John Gehlhaus, Rich Hill, Shirley Jackson, Cindy Jameson, Floann Jett, Lee Kennicke, Pam Liebing, Jane McAfee, Beth Miller, Jake Miller, Denny Polosky, Hank Rains, Greg Rodenmeyer, Tony Schetzsle, Robin Shukle, Alli Smith, Pete Smith, Kay Tritico, Jim Turner, Garrett Vermerche, and John Vorreiter. All prizes can be claimed at the Estes Park 18-hole Pro Shop.
Invitational organizers also thanked the following businesses, individuals and organization for their door prize donations: Estes Park Junior Golf, MacDonald’s Book Store, Kind Coffee, Aspen & Evergreen, Claire’s Restaurant, The Dunraven Inn, Lone Tree GC, Golfsmith, Carol Grasso/Franklin Templeton, Sarah Busch Massage, Elements of Touch Massage, AJGA, Ladies PGA, Little People’s Golf, FootJoy, Callaway, and several anonymous donors.
We greatly appreciate the special donations made to the event by Marsha and Jon Sypher, Lanty McCartney, Maureen Garrity. Bob Maranowics, and other anonymous donors, and our thanks to those who purchased t-shirts, caps and polo shirts, with proceeds going to the junior golf program.
