“You couldn’t ask for a better day,” was the quote of the day from the eighth annual Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital Friends Foundation Charity Golf Tournament held Friday, June 24. Mild temperatures and lower humidity levels greeted golfers the entire day.
The tournament got off to a flying start with the golf ball drop. Numbered golf balls were bought for $10 each and dropped from an R44 helicopter piloted by Dr. Paul Salmon. The closest ball to the hole was purchased by John Danielson. He donated all but $100 of the $390 prize to the foundation. Keith Johnson, former Friends Foundation member and golf tourney chair welcomed the participants and gave a few pre-tournament instructions before handing the mike over to Tom Keim, SGCMH CEO.
“I want to thank you on behalf of the hospital, board of directors, physicians, staff, volunteers, and in particular, our Friends Foundation,” said Keim. “They unselfishly give of their time and talents to really further our cause of being the healthcare provider of choice for our county and the people that we have the privilege of serving every day. And that’s where the money goes-- to help us improve our healthcare to the people of Ste. Genevieve County. We appreciate your support.”
There were several shouts of “birdies” and even a few “eagles” as scores remained very respectable throughout the day. The Bank of Bloomsdale team finished in first place with a score of 58. Second and third place finishers, determined by a scorecard playoff, were MRV Banks and Lakenan Insurance with a score of 59. First and second place B-Flight winners, determined by scorecard playoff, were Jefferson Regional Medical Center and Citizens Electric with a score of 68 each. Rounding out the B-flight was the BBVR team with a score of 69.
The final name announced was Patrick Naeger, whose name was drawn as the 50-50 raffle ticket winner. He generously donated all $737 of his winnings back to the foundation. It was a long day of golf, but none of the players had concerns about hunger.
A steak dinner and copious varieties of desserts provided by Lu Miller, Occupational Medicine Director at SGCMH, awaited them in the club house, so everyone left a winner having had a fun day while helping the Friends Foundation. The great weather, itself, will go into the record books.
The charity golf tournament, held the last Friday in June each year, is the signature event for The Friends of Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital, which was established in the fall of 2003. Board members are Diane Weber, President, Debra Donze, Vice-President, Larry Roderman, Secretary-Treasurer, Terry Rottler, Larry Drury, Leo “Chipper” Basler, Vickie Winkler, and Jodi Uding. For more information on the Friends Foundation, call 573-883-7725.
