By Lori Brown
TENNANAH LAKE — July 18, 2006 – Liberty Elks Lodge #1545 sponsored its fifth annual Golf Tournament on Sunday at the Tennanah Lake Golf and Tennis Club.
The Liberty Elks golf tourney is one of the most successful tournaments in this area, said Harry Fox, state Vice President for the E-Central District.
“There were approximately 105 to 110 people who played in this tournament,” said John Clements, Past District Deputy.
Participating in this tournament were Elks from Middletown, Greenwood Lake, Monticello and Mid-Hudson Districts, to name a few, as well as other people from surrounding areas. The tournament players donated money for a game of golf as well as lunch and dinner.
The tournament was a scramble, with the best ball played on every hole. The players enjoyed a wonderful day of golf and they supported a good cause for the Elks. The money raised at the tournament goes for scholarships and other contributions for the county, said several Liberty Elks Members.
Liberty Elks Member Susan Baquet is also the Director of Operations at the Tennanah Lake Golf and Tennis Club.
“She has a well-oiled crew to keep the club running great for the tournament and she is much appreciated, Fox said.
Keeping tally of the scores was Frank Godlewski. He has been the Tennanah Lake Golf and Tennis Club Director of Golf for one year.
Fox noted that Godlewski is also very much appreciated by the Elks.
The Liberty Elks Lodge was very grateful to all the people who donated prizes and other various items for the tournament.
“Much thanks to Steve Gottlieb from the Trading Post, who was the biggest donator of the prizes,” Fox said.
Fox, a member of the Liberty Elks Lodge, honored the team that came in first place. Team members Garry Cassevah, Lance Brookins, Walter Herzog and Justin Bowers combined for a 12-under par 60. The four men will have their names inscribed in the tournament plaque, which has the inscriptions of the all of the winning teams since the inaugural tournament in 2002.
The team of Bowers, Brookins, Cassevah and Herzog has played in three Liberty Elks Tournaments in the past, but had never before captured first place.
Taking first place in the second flight was the team of Paul Napolitano, Vincent Napolitano, Bob Quinn, Rodney Jester, Tony Marano and Don Winters. Their total score was 64, which is 8-under-par.
Capturing first place in the third flight was the team of Rick Sternkopf, Brian Goodstein, Frank Finn Sr. and Frank Finn Jr. The foursome scored a 4-under-par 68.
The Liberty Elks also presented a prize to the last place team in the fourth flight, also known as the anchor team. The foursome, which consisted of Patty Hopkins, Jamie Hopkins, Joyce Pitt and John Lennon, carded a 10-over-par 82.
The top teams each received gift certificates, while the team that placed last in each flight received hats and a personalized poster.
Joining the Liberty Elks members at the tournament was Bill Pine, District Deputy for the E-Central District. Pine and Fox spent a great deal of time at the ninth hole, hoping for someone to get a hole-in-one so they could give away a brand new car from M&M Ford of Liberty.
That was not the only thing the Liberty Elks were giving away. At the 18th hole, the Liberty Elks were giving away a beautiful custom-made driver for a hole-in-one or the closest shot. They also gave away prizes for longest drive and closest to the pin, to name a few.
After the event, the players enjoyed a meal of barbecue chicken, an ear of corn, a potato and rolls. Fox said that Lyman Wood deserved the credit for the wonderful tasting food, as well as Berry Klein, who donated the wood for the food to be cooked on. The Liberty Elks also helped in preparing the food and serving it.