March 29, 2024

Golf Classic Raises Money for Scholarships, Athletics

Golf Classic

Sponsorships and in-kind donations meant big money raised at the College of Southern Maryland Foundation’s 25th Annual Golf Classic. The tournament was held at Swan Point Yacht & Country Club on Aug. 18, 2016, and raised $73,687 for the foundation’s initiatives, such as athletics and student scholarships for credit and workforce development programs.

Swan Point has been the host of the event since the beginning, and this was the 15th year that Marrick Homes has been the grand sponsor of the tournament.

CSM Golf Classic 2016

Marrick Homes Scholarship winners at the College of Southern Maryland attended the 25th Annual Golf Classic on Aug. 18 at Swan Point Yacht & Country Club. From left are CSM student-athlete Corrine Fernald; Rick Bailey Jr., Marrick Homes vice president; CSM student-athlete Will Parr; and CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried. Marrick Homes was the golf tourney’s grand sponsor.

“Over its lifetime, this signature event has brought together golf enthusiasts, college alumni, community leaders, and the business community to raise more than $700,000 for scholarships for CSM students as well as for CSM athletic programs,” Dr. Brad Gottfried, CSM president, said as he welcomed guests to the event. “I would like to thank you for coming to the tournament in support of your community college and its students. This event wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of our outstanding planning committee led by CSM Foundation Events Chair Nancy Hempstead.”

CSM’s student-athletes volunteered their time for the day and gave a rousing send-off to the 148 golfers as they took off to start the play.

A ringer at the par-4 second hole raised cash by driving for any foursome. His name is Roger Welch, and he is a former CSM student who also happens to be the 2002 NJCAA National Golf Champion and CSM 2014 Hall of Fame inductee.

“I am excited to see CSM alumni who have returned to give back and support the college in our annual Golf Classic. It is with their success and your support we are able to continue to help generations of CSM students who are our future teachers, engineers, athletes and tradesman,” Gottfried said. “In recognition of the CSM alumni, last year we started Alumni Row, which is visible on the other side of the putting green as you drive out.”

The CSM Alumni Scholarship got a boost on Alumni Row, where graduates could buy signs with their names and year of graduation on them.

For the second year, G.S. Proctor & Associates held a Sip & Swing event for alumni and friends who were able to play 18 holes of golf. That event started with a four-course wine and food tasting, then moved to the driving range and putting green for clinics on chipping, driving and putting.

The event’s honorary chairman, state Sen. Thomas “Mac” Middleton, gave an address during dinner. This year marks the 50th anniversary of his graduation from CSM.

Middleton graduated from CSM, then known as Charles County Community College, in 1966. He was one of 14 graduates that year. Since then, Middleton has served as president of the Charles County commissioners, been a member of the state Senate since 1995 and currently serves as the chairman of the influential Senate Finance Committee.

During his speech, Middleton shared his memories of the early years of his college career — from the various locations in La Plata that housed the college, to the offerings of only night classes, to faculty members and his time on the basketball team.

“I was on the team because they needed somebody. I didn’t know how to play basketball. … I was actually a benchwarmer,” he joked, before noting that he only made one basket in his entire career on the team.

“The College of Southern Maryland has been a big part of my life,” Middleton said. “I consider the college the jewel, the crown jewel, of Southern Maryland. It is one of the best institutions, the best community college in the entire [Maryland Association of Community Colleges] system, as far as I’m concerned. I just look at the years, and how we started with 14 students. … Now look at where we are.”

Awards and prizes were given out at the end of the dinner.

CSM Golf Classic 2016

The first-place team at the 25th Annual Golf Classic on Aug. 18 at Swan Point Yacht & Country Club was from McDonald & Eudy Printers Inc. – Michael McDonald Sr., left, Kevin Bowen, Cas Dickerson and John Bowling.

First-place honors went to the team from McDonald & Eudy Printers Inc. – Kevin Bowen, John Bowling, Cas Dickerson and Michael McDonald Sr. Second place went to the Raley Watts & O’Neill team of David Bean, George Heinze, Shannon Misner and Joe O’Neill. The third-place team – Dale Cornette, Donnie Mister, Chris Simpson and Gary Simpson — was from Simpson’s Olde Towne Insurance and Ledo Pizza of La Plata. The 25th-place commemorative trophy went to the Sine family team of Evan Sine, Joan Sine, Tara Sine Landis and Andrea Sine Watkins.

Closest-to-the-pin contest winners were Brian Compton and Leah Estevez. Longest-drive contest winners were D.R. Cox and Watkins. Straightest-drive contest winners were Danny Michael and Hempstead.

Corporate sponsors were Chris Rush and Mark Posten, Educational Systems Federal Credit Union, Maryland Independent and Old Line Bank. Mulligan sponsors were McDonald & Eudy Printers Inc., SMECO and University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center. Community Partner sponsors were Calvert Memorial Hospital, Coldwell Banker Jay Lilly Real Estate, Community Bank of the Chesapeake, DRN Environmental Solutions LLC, Nancy Hempstead, Pickett & Oliverio LLP, Quality Built Homes, Specialized Patterns in Training and The Rex. Bayside Auto Group was the sponsor of the Hole in One to Win a 2016 Kia Optima.

Putting-contest sponsors were Community Bank of the Chesapeake and Raley Watts & O’Neill. Contest sponsors were Buddy Sprague, Dixie Miller and Jim Ritter, Educational Systems Federal Credit Union, Marrick Homes and Southern Solutions LLC. Food and beverage sponsors were Bozick Distributors, Burger King of Southern Maryland, CDL Inc., Chick-fil-A of La Plata, Clubtails, Food Lion of La Plata and Giant of La Plata. In-kind donations were provided by Apple Spice Junction, The Carousel, Joson Fine Jewelry and Home Boutique, Kemper Properties, Ledo Pizza of La Plata and Proforma Johnston & Associates.

The CSM Foundation’s 26th Annual Golf Classic will be Aug. 10, 2017. Marrick Homes has pledged support for the event through 2019.

For more about the College of Southern Maryland, visit their Leader member page.

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