More than 40 golfers from Wrangell and across Southeast Alaska gathered at Muskeg Meadows Golf Course on May 26 for the 5th Annual Wrangell Medical Center Foundation golf tournament.
Wrangellite Warren Edgely putts one in during the tournament. Edgely’s team finished in 4th place with a 34(-15) score.
Jim Rogers, Tim Koeneman and Tom Abbott helped Petersburg Medical Center’s team take home the Rear Raven Award for their last place finish during the tournament. Not pictured was team member Von Abbott.
Korovin and Erin Ellis schlep for a caddy spot before the start of the tournament.
Sometimes a golf tournament in Wrangell isn’t about just going out to hit balls and spend time with friends and family.
Once a year, at least, it’s about saving lives.
The 5th annual Wrangell Medical Center Foundation golf tournament, which supports local cancer patients and commemorates former WMC administrator, the late Brian Gilbert, came to fruition last weekend despite early torrential rains and cold temperatures at Muskeg Meadows golf course.
The tourney, which featured 10 teams of four players apiece, saw golf that ranged from highly refined, to the duffers in the rear, and raised tens of thousands of dollars for the WMC Foundation.
Noel Rea, CEO of WMC, said the money raised by the foundation each year is important to help a number of programs supported by the hospital.
“This is, by far, the biggest fundraiser we have for the foundation and it’s now in its fifth year,” Rea said. “We have three arms of the foundation which support the facility and fill gaps where we can, and we have a health careers segment that we are working on. The primary expenditure out of the money we raise, however, is for cancer care.”
The foundation’s cancer care allocation allows the group to donate up to $1,000 per patient to send those stricken with the disease off Wrangell Island for treatment and handles expenses such as airfare, hotel stays, and dining while traveling.
The 2011 tournament raised more than $20,000 according to Muskeg Meadows manager Grover Mathis – and the 2012 event looks to be besting that by a substantial amount.
“This year, it looks like we’ll get more than $30,000,” Mathis added. “This has been very successful in the past in raising money for this worthy cause, and this year is better. The auction and dinner is really where the main fundraising effort is seen.”
Firm numbers on the money raised at both the tournament and auction was not available by press time.
Of the 40 players officially taking part in the tournament, Mathis added that 25 were from areas outside of Wrangell.
“It’s great for the community because you have all the out-of-towners coming in and using the hotel, shopping, and spending money here. That’s always a plus for Wrangell,” Mathis said.
After the tournament wrapped up on Saturday afternoon, Mathis and Muskeg Meadows co-manager Shannon Booker tabulated numbers – but the results wouldn’t be made public for a few more hours.
The highlight of the weekend – and the place where the teams taking part would learn of the top five placers – was the dinner and auction held at the James and Elsie Nolan Center on Saturday night.
The dinner began with an introduction of Miss Alaska 2011, Katy Lovegreen, by Assemblyman Don McConachie.
“It has been a great event,” Lovegreen said. “I fell in love with Wrangell from the moment we landed. The event has been a lot of fun and everyone here has been so great and casual.”
Before the teams that won the tournament could be announced, however, Dr. Lynn Prysunka, an Alaska Island Community Services physician employed at WMC was honored with the Janet Buness Award for her contribution to healthcare in the borough.
Buness is a member of the foundation’s board of directors.
The winning team was made up of Phil Hester, Terry Borer, Seth Howard and Marty Michiels and they took home the top prize with a 34(-17) score in the best-ball matchup.
Golfer Seth Howard made it closest-to-the-pin with a distance of 17 inches, while Jason Adams made the straightest drive with a measurement of 22.375 inches.
Rea, ever the joker during the evening’s event, made sure to make a big deal of the “Rear Raven” award. Longtime winner McConachie gave the award to the team with the last-place finish among the field of players.
“This year, the award doesn’t stay here like it has for so long,” Rea said. “But goes north to Petersburg.”
The team of Petersburg Medical Center Board of Directors President Tom Abbott, Von Abbott, PMC board member Tim Koeneman and Jim Rogers placed at the bottom of the leaderboard with a score of 39(-15) for their final tally.
“Make sure you put that in a highly visible location at the Petersburg Medical Center,” Rea quipped.
The evening closed with dinner, followed by a live auction – and a gracious nod by Rea to those who took part in a weekend meant to fight cancer.
“It wouldn’t be possible to name everyone who made this a success, but I really want to give credit to all our volunteers and sponsors,” Rea added. “This wouldn’t be possible without them.”
Tournament sponsors included PeaceHealth in Ketchikan, Layton Construction, Garvy Schubert Barer Law Firm, R&M Engineering, Bartlett Regional Hospital, Younkers-Keyes Associates, Inc., GCI, WMC Physical Therapy, and the WMC Foundation.
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