Progress for Prostate tourney a sure shot

Cripple Creek Golf and Country Club played host to yet another sold-out event last week, with the 7th Annual Progress for Prostate Golf Tournament, aimed at raising funds and awareness for one of the most common cancers faced by men today. In all, more than $20,000 was raised from last Thursday’s golf tournament, which saw more than 100 golfers and was preceded by a dinner and theatrical performance the evening before.

“It was a great tournament,” noted Bob Davis, a prostate cancer survivor, avid golfer, active playwright and a member at Cripple Creek Country Club. “It was a complete sell-out for both the play and the tournament.”

One of Davis’ most recent productions, “Dear Hortense,” was presented on Wednesday, July 14, at the Cripple Creek Country Club, during a dinner and silent auction.

Throughout the day of the tournament, athletes took to the links on the Dagsboro course and put on quite a show. The overall first-place team, with a score of 136, consisted of Harry Steele, Marvin McIntyre, John Pearson and Don Antonucci.

Cripple Creek member, Rich Conti, was named the winner of the putting competition, while Peter Urquhart was the winner of the “Closest to the Pin” challenge on Hole 16. Bethany Beach Events Coordinator Gloria Farrar won closest to the pin on Hole 4. Karen Pittenger had the longest drive for the ladies on Hole 10, while Joe Motherway picked up the longest drive for the men on Hole 8.

If golfers arrived at the end of the 18 holes with a pink ball given out at the start, they were also recognized with a prize. Winners of the pink ball tournament were Pete Urquhart, his son Jim, Glen Chisholm and Chuck Pittenger.

Tom Hunsberger, another Cirpple Creek member, was recognized for his Hole-In-One on the day, as well, which was rewarded by Remax by the Sea, who sponsored the hole.

Wednesday’s auction offered a slew of items, including a week at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire, a dinner party for eight, and a personal magic show put on by Richard Bloc.

The money raised from last week’s events brings total contributions from the Progress for Prostate Golf Tournament up to more than $150,000, which has gone into Beebe Medical Center’s prostate cancer screening program.

“We couldn’t have done it without the support of the businesses and organizations in the community,” noted Davis.

Special thanks, Davis said, went out to Steve Morgan, president of the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce, and Hank Skogmo, who recognized the late Bill Naughton, a longtime member of Cripple Creek Country Club who recently passed away after fighting his own battle with prostate cancer.

Beebe Medical Foundation’s Executive Director Alex Syndor and Beebe Medical Center President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Fried gave talks about the prostate cancer screenings at Beebe, as well.

“It was nice to hear them share information with the people,” Davis said. “It’s great to know that the money raised from the event is doing some good. We had a great seventh year, and I say, let’s do it for another.”

There were a record number of hole sponsors from the local business community for this year’s tournament – something that Davis particularly noted.

“It’s really nice to see the businesses in community get behind the event,” he said. “With the economy the way it had been, that’s really good news. It’s very encouraging to have a sellout year after year for this event. Everyone really helped out, and it’s nice to be doing this for a good cause.”