CSM golf tournament raises $74K for foundation
College of Southern Maryland’s friends raised $73,687 in sponsorships and in-kind donations at the CSM Foundation’s 25th Annual Golf Classic. The tournament, held at Swan Point Yacht & Country Club on Aug. 18, supports CSM Foundation initiatives which include athletics and student scholarships for credit and workforce development programs.
It was the 15th year that Marrick Homes has been the tournament’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,” CSM President Brad Gottfried said in a press release.
Student-athletes were on-hand as volunteers and to provide a rousing sendoff for the 148 golfers to start play.
Roger Welch, a former CSM student, 2002 NJCAA National Golf Champion and CSM 2014 Hall of Fame inductee, stayed at the par-4 second hole, where he would take a drive for any foursome to raise money for the CSM Alumni Scholarship.
A Sip & Swing event, sponsored by G.S. Proctor & Associates, was held for the second year for alumni and friends who were unable to devote time to play 18 holes of golf. The event began with a four-course wine and food tasting and then moved out to the driving range and putting green for clinics on putting, chipping and driving.
After a shotgun start at 9 a.m. and lunch on the course, golfers and participants in the Sip & Swing instruction sessions made their way to the clubhouse to hear from the event’s honorary chairman, state Sen. Thomas “Mac” Middleton (D-Charles) during dinner. This year marks the 50th anniversary of his graduation from CSM.
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 colleges 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.”
Tournament 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 thirdplace 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.