Cary Classic tournament marks 25th anniversary

    In 1983, regular gas sold for $1.29 per gallon, a two-bedroom home averaged $36,000, a new Ford Escort sold for $6,900 and “Gandhi” won Best Picture of the Year. Russia was the, “Evil Empire” and the Washington Redskins won the Super Bowl. Something else exciting happened in 1983, the establishment of the Cary Classic Benefit Golf Tournament. Twenty five years later it has become a highlight of the golf season in northern Maine.     Members of the Jefferson Cary Foundation Board of Directors have been spending the last few months making preparation for this significant milestone. This year’s tournament will be held on July 12 and 13 at the Caribou Country Club. The tournament is a two-day 36-hole event. Over the years the tournament has featured some of the finest golfers in the region. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Center for Breast Health and Healing now under design at Cary Medical Center. The tournament is sponsored by Time Warner Cable.
    This year’s tournament will feature some $8,000 in prizes, a $25,000 hole in one prize along with a special putting contest, longest drive and closest to the pin competitions. The event will include four men’s divisions and two ladies divisions with prizes being awarded four deep in both gross and net categories. Mary Harrigan, executive director of the Jefferson Cary Foundation, said that the quality of the prizes has always been the trademark of the Cary Classic.
    “We are so very fortunate to have the support of so many sponsors for this event and this makes it possible for us to provide very high quality prizes. This has been a great attraction to our tournament over the years.”
    Harrigan also said that the tournament has developed a unique atmosphere which golfers say makes it one of their favorite golf experiences.
    “Our tournament champions and others who have consistently played the Classic, speak of the quality of play, the quality of the course and the special feeling that is just part of this event. Many golfers come back year after year and make the Cary Classic a definite summer destination”.
    The Caribou Country Club has hosted the Cary Classic throughout its 25 year history. Jeff Jose, who manages the Caribou Country Club has been the tournament director and has played in and won the Cary Classic. Jose said the people associated with the Country Club consider the Cary Classic as a very special event.
    “Ever since this tournament started we have continued to do our best to get the course in the best condition of the season. We have some very dedicated club members who volunteer their time to get the course ready, and we have a strong tournament committee that helps keep things on target during the two day event. In addition our grounds crew really put in the extra effort to make conditions as ideal as we can.  It’s a great source of pride for us to know that we are offering such a high quality course and we look forward to the event every year”.
    In addition to the two full days of golf, players registered for the tournament have an opportunity to play in a practice round prior to the tournament on Friday, July 11. The cost of the practice round is covered in the registration as is a steak dinner for award presentations on Sunday evening.  Each registered golfer also receives an embroidered golf shirt on opening day. The hole in one prize of $25,000 will be the largest ever for the tournament. Bill Flagg, Director of Community Relations and Development at Cary Medical Center who instituted the event in 1983 said that everyone hopes someone will hit a hole in one.
    “We have only had one hole in one during the 25 years of this event,” said Flagg who has played the tournament over the past two years. “Although Reid Morrill hit a hole in one on hole number 7, the great shot was hit on the first nine instead of the back nine, so he did not win the hole in one prize. Reid was a real patron of the Cary Classic and played every year until his untimely death in 2003. He was so excited about hitting the hole in one, that he was not disappointed in not winning the cash prize, demonstrating what a great sport he was. It would be great if we had a hole in one on this special 25th Anniversary.”
    Each year since Reid’s death, his son Ron, has sponsored a second hole in one prize in memory of his dad. His contest is on the first time around on hole number 7 on Sunday, and the tournament $25,000 hole in one contest is done the second time around on Sunday on hole number 7.
    Golfers can now register for the Cary Classic by contacting the Caribou County Club at 493-3933 or calling the Jefferson Cary Foundation at 493-4849. Registration is limited. Registration is $85 for non members of the Caribou Country Club and $75 for members.
    In addition to Time Warner Cable, other Corporate sponsors include Kozack & Gayer, P.A., C.P.S.I., Medical Mutual Insurance Company of Maine, Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker, Coca-Cola, EZ to use Big Book, Lincoln Financial Group and the Cary Medical Center Medical Staff.