Watertown, New York ----- The Ninth Annual Thousand Islands Golf Classic to benefit healthcare in the North Country was played Monday, June 12th at the Thousand Islands Country Club on Wellesley Island. Twenty-six golf professionals from the Central New York region competed for a purse of $10,000.  Nick Serafino of the Lake Shore Yacht & Country Club won the top prize of $1,330 with a score of 68. Dennis Colligan from Cazenovia Golf Club placed second with a score of 69 and Trey Walewski from Kamon Valley Country Club took third with a score of 70.

 Play commenced with a shotgun start at 9:45 a.m.  Each foursome was paired with a professional.  The professional played his own ball the entire round while the amateurs played a scramble.   Tournament director and steering committee chairman Bill Gerber said, “This tournament continues to grow each year. The dedicated work of the steering committee and the commitment of the volunteers always make this tournament a success.”

 The winning amateur foursome in the open division was the Premier Builders/Con Tech Building Systems team of Rob Reddick, Mike Kmetz, Greg Langevin and Kevin Schaffer with a score of 14 under par.  The R.J. Williams Lumber team of Jack Williams, Richard Brooks, Mike Steele and Greg Feduke finished in second place.  Third place went to North Country Consulting/AAMCO team of Kim Allen, Paul Simmons, Neil Freeman and Richard Mangan.

The tournament raised approximately $60,000 for the Samaritan Foundation and the Thousand Islands Hospital and Health Services Support Trust to support healthcare in the North Country.  Beth and Rob Reddick hosted a cocktail reception for the sponsors, golf professionals and board members at their new home on Aerie Cove, Alexandria Bay.  Samaritan’s Dietary department very capably catered the nautical themed reception.  The weather cooperated for all events.

Raffle winner of the TV donated by Big Apple Music was Rob Crowe, winner of the kayak donated by AquaMania was Dan Rose, the Ping driver donated by the Thousand Islands Country Club was won by Peter Hixon and Jim Costello won the dinner certificates donated by Gusto’s, The Clipper Inn and The Harbor Inn and Restaurant.

The Tenth Annual Thousand Islands Golf Classic has been tentatively set for Monday, June 11, 2007.  For more information on sponsorship opportunities, contact the Samaritan Foundation at 785-5785.