The 27th annual Spoon River College Foundation Golf Outing was held on Friday, September 25 at Wee-Ma-Tuk Hills Country Club. This year’s outing raised more than $18,000.
“With the change in date and safety concerns due to the pandemic, having the success we had with our outing is incredible,” said SRC Foundation Director Colin Davis. “Every dollar raised will help local students have the best educational experience possible at SRC.”
Numerous safety protocols were in place to help ensure the safety of all participants and volunteers.
“I can’t express enough how grateful we are that the participants took the safety protocols as seriously as they did,” said Davis. “They helped ensure that this was a good and safe event for all.”
In all, over 55 businesses and organizations from the SRC District and beyond sponsored the outing, and 18 teams competed in the event.
“We tried to keep the pressure off our local businesses given all that they have had to endure this year,” said Davis. “But that didn’t stop them. We owe a debt of gratitude to all of our sponsors, and especially our Ace Sponsors: Corporate Clean, CTS Group, the Odendahl Family, Unland Companies, and WBYS/CD 107.9.”
Golfers this year were treated to lunch, a SRC-themed t-shirt, and the opportunity to compete for the coveted championship. This year’s winners, successfully defending their 2019 title with a score of 16-under, were Team Odendahl. The Very Most Average Team award, given to the team which finishes closest to the average score that day, went to Team Unland Companies, who finished at 9-under and won a coin toss to determine the winner.
Golfers also had the opportunity to compete for skill prizes on every hole. While these are normally prizes donated by local businesses, the SRC Foundation chose this year to purchase Chamber Bucks from the Canton Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Each year, we ask our local businesses to step up for us, and this year, we thought it was important for us to show our support for them,” said Davis. “Chamber Bucks ensure that local businesses will see direct benefit from our outing, and we were proud to support Wee-Ma-Tuk by hosting our outing at Fulton County’s only golf course.”
The SRC Foundation raises funds to support scholarships, programs and facilities at Spoon River College. Funds from the 2019 outing helped to provide emergency hardship grants to SRC students who lost income or had unexpected expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds raised at this year’s outing will help the SRC Foundation meet similar needs during this academic year.
“The support of our communities means everything to us and to our students in a normal year,” said Davis, “but in this time where our students’ need is greater than ever, the support of our sponsors and teams means even more.”
Next year’s event is tentatively scheduled on the event’s traditional date of the last Friday in July – July 30, 2021. To learn more about the SRC Foundation, call (309) 649-6260, e-mail foundation@src.edu, or go to www.src.edu/foundation.
Odendahl Family 2020 Champions: Gary Kruzan, Fred Odendahl, Ben Gillen, Martha Davis, SRC President Curt Oldfield
Unland Companies, Very Most Average: Pat Taphorn, Nate Rugaard, Betsy Yarcho, Mike Eddy.