By Rob Potter
SOUTH FALLSBURG — June 13, 2006 – Although they had to bundle up more than usual for a June golf event, the dozens of golfers who spent several hours Saturday at Tarry Brae Golf Course didn’t seem to mind.
As they gathered in the clubhouse for an awards luncheon, the men and women smiled as they talked about their experience of playing 18 holes in weather conditions that made it feel more like October.
The more than 100 golfers were happy to have competed in the fourth annual Jake Classic Golf Outing. The event was established by the Sullivan County Probation Officers Association (SCPOA) as a way to honor the late Jacob “Jake” E. Gunther III, who represented the 98th District in the New York State Assembly until his untimely passing in July 2003.
Before presenting awards to the top golfers, Jake Classic Golf Outing Chairman Lou Setren praised the golfers sitting throughout the room.
“Thank you all for playing golf today and helping to support such a great cause,” he said.
The top law enforcement team consisted of Vin Ellison, Bob Jackson, Frank Palmieri and Rich Roccabruna. The four golfers, who represented the Orange County Probation Department, combined for a 4-under-par 68. The foursome will keep the prestigious Jake Cup trophy for the next 12 months and will attempt to defend it at the 2007 Jake Classic.
Roccabruna smiled as he said that the team prevailed while battling the “adverse conditions and swirling winds.”
The members of the top civilian team included Tom Drobysh, Rick Morgan, Bobby Sipos and Pete Rossiter.
Other awards presented included: Closest to the Line – Jimmy Smith, Closest to the Pin – Brenton Nash and Longest Drive – Rick Morgan.
Although no one took home the hole-in-one prize of a new car courtesy of the Robert Green Dealerships of Monticello, several golfers won door and raffle prizes. Those prizes included gift certificates to area restaurants, a patio set and a barbecue grill.
Setren presented official 2006 Jake Classic T-shirts to past tournament chairman Paul DuMont and his mother, Pearl. Setren noted that Pearl DuMont knocked on the doors of several business owners and asked them to donate raffle prizes for the event.
All proceeds from the Jake Classic Golf Outing benefit the Jacob E. Gunther III Memorial Criminal Justice Scholarship. Because of the generous support of local businesses and individuals in the past, SCPOA officials were able to present $1,000 scholarships to two local high school seniors during Saturday’s awards luncheon.
Those scholarship recipients were Jillian Jonas and Latoya Newton.
Jonas, a senior at Fallsburg Central School, will be attending Albany University in the fall. She plans to major in Crime Scene Forensics/Psychology and her career goal is to become a crime scene analyst.
“I was surprised, I didn’t think I would get this,” Jonas said. “I’m very happy and honored to receive this scholarship.”
Newton, who is a senior at Monticello High School, will also attend Albany University. She plans to major in Criminal Justice.
“I’m very excited to receive the scholarship,” Newton said.
Setren and his fellow tournament organizers were very happy with Saturday’s event.
“We have to thank [golf pro] Glenn Sonnenschein and everyone here at Tarry Brae,” Setren said. “The lunch was great and the course was gorgeous.
“We had our largest turnout ever this year,” he continued. “We had 26 foursomes and those 104 golfers were great. The fact that we have more golfers this year than ever before is a testament to Jake. He was such a great friend to the law enforcement community here in the 98th Assembly District and throughout New York State with his work in the Assembly.”