Thirteenth annual Bassett Invitational raises nearly $100,000 for Friends of Bassett's Annual Fund
Cooperstown, N.Y. - Hosted by the Friends of Bassett, the thirteenth annual Bassett Invitational took place on Tuesday, June 1, at The Otesaga Hotel’s challenging Par-72 Leatherstocking Golf Course. The commitment and generosity of Invitational sponsors, golfers and guests enabled the Friends to raise nearly $100,000. New proceeds will support the Friends’ Annual Fund, which strengthens Bassett Healthcare Network’s regional initiatives across its eight-county service area.
Representing the Friends, Josh Truman, director of Fund Development, said, “All of our 2010 participants persevered damp conditions early in the round but a great day was had by all as the sunshine peaked through by the end of tournament play. We are very appreciative to our sponsors that have shown their continuous dedication to our Bassett Healthcare Network. The Bassett Invitational was a tremendous success due to the diligent work from The Otesaga and Friends of Bassett staff.”
Arriving at the Leatherstocking’s clubhouse, each golfer received a gift bag filled with golf-related items and a garment bag. Following lunch on the hotel’s panoramic veranda, golfers teed up to play 18 holes. Later, golfers were joined by guests in The Otesaga's ballroom for the awards presentation which included a cocktail reception and buffet. First-place winners in the low-net team category were John Hammond, Will Joslyn and Kurt Terrell who represented A&D Transport Services Inc., and won Wilson Staff Drivers. The second-place team – Ray Adee, Bill Reeves, Lee Reeves and Joe Sperry – who represented Hometown Oneonta & The Freeman’s Journal, won Callaway Hybrid Clubs. The third-place foursome – Bill Burdick, Steve Healy, Jon Houppert and John Sheeran, from USI Insurance Services LLC– were awarded FootJoy Sport Golf Shoes. Coming in at fourth-place was the Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP foursome – Leo Crowley, Jerry Groff, Tony Partenza and Jeff Woeppel – who won Ping Sandwedges.
In the low-gross team category, Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan team – Fred Galt, John Heath, Craig Jasenski and Kirk Panneton – brought home Cobra S2 Drivers. The second-place team – Jim Bugonian, Jim Peters, Dan Schallert and Bob Schlather, playing for Schlather & Birch, Attorneys-at-Law, won Cobra Baffler Hybrids. Carl Utter for straightest drive, Bill Stamp for closest-to-pin, Susan Jamback for longest drive (women) and Jon Houppert for longest drive (men).
Mr. Truman thanked the members of the 2010 Invitational Committee who volunteered their time and expertise to make the fund-raiser a success: Scott Barrett, Jim Empie, Bob Schlather, Matt Schuermann and Dan Spooner. Mr. Truman also thanked LPGA Tour member Laura Diaz for supporting the Bassett Invitational and assisting each team with an additional approach shot and putt on the course’s finishing hole. This is Laura’s twelfth year on tour, earning two LPGA Tour victories in 2002. She also is a four-time member of the U.S. Solheim Cup Team and recently qualified for the Women’s U.S. Open in July.
The Friends thanks the following corporate sponsors, new and returning, for their commitment to accessible, high quality health care: KeyBank, event sponsor; The Otesaga Hotel, greens fee sponsor; BSA LifeStructures, McCarthy Building Companies Inc., lunch hosts; Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, prize sponsor; Matco Electric, cocktail reception host; Eastern Copy Products, Mang Insurance Agency/Mirabito Energy Products, Medline Industries Inc., Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 112, golf cart sponsors; Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan and USI Insurance Services LLC, beverage cart sponsors; A&D Transport Services Inc., beverage station sponsor; The Middleburgh Telephone Company, gift bag sponsor; and Leatherstocking Region Federal Credit Union, scoreboard sponsor.
Hole sponsors were: Angelica Textile Services; The Daily Star/Cooperstown Crier/The Weekly Star/Upstate Life Magazine; Drogen Electric; Eastern Painting Company, Fidelity Retirement Services; HANYS Benefit Services; Health Capital Partners LTD; Hometown Oneonta & The Freeman’s Journal; The Law Firm of Napierski, VanDenburgh & Napierski L.L.P.; Mid-Hudson Cablevision; Otsego Ready Mix, Oneonta Block Company, Pickett Building Materials; Pepsi Beverages Company of Utica; Persun & Heim PC; Postler & Jaeckle Corp.; and Schlather & Birch, Attorneys-at-Law.
Additionally, Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company was the Bassett bridge sponsor; NYCM Insurance the nineteenth hole sponsor; and Delhi Motor Company Inc. and Smith-Ford Cooperstown Inc. hole-in-one sponsors. Leatherstocking Group Inc. /Matt Schuermann, sponsored the longest drive contest; Dalpos Architects & Integrators sponsored the straightest drive contest; and Hamilton Critical Care and Emergency Medicine Consultants PC was the sponsor of the closest-to-pin contest.
Golfers and regional businesses also may be interested in playing in or sponsoring two additional golf tournaments that benefit regional Bassett affiliates. On Fri., Sept. 17, Little Falls Hospital will hold its annual golf classic at the Cedar Lake Golf Course in Clayville, and on Wed., Sept.22, O’Connor Hospital will hold its fourth annual invitational at the Delhi College Golf Course. Corporate sponsorships also are available for the 2011 Bassett Invitational and other Friends of Bassett special events, including the upcoming 2010 Bassett New Year’s Eve Gala, “Nuit d’Argent.”
For information on special events and corporate sponsorships, call the Friends of Bassett office at (607) 547-3928.
