CARIBOU, Maine — A bright sun and warm temperatures delighted more than 70 golfers from across Aroostook County and beyond who turned out for the 32nd annual Cary Classic Benefit Golf Tournament.
The event, sponsored in part by Katahdin Trust Company, is directed by the Jefferson Cary Foundation and played at the Caribou Country Club. Proceeds from the event will benefit the new Jefferson Cary Cancer Center on the campus of Cary Medical Center.
The tournament which featured four men’s and two ladies’ divisions, featured approximately $8,000 in prizes. Randy Hebert of South Carolina, a former tournament champion, won the overall championship with a 36-hole gross score of 146. Another former ladies’ champion, Betty Deveau of Caribou, won the overall women’s championship with a score of 165.
Mary Harrigan, executive director of the Jefferson Cary Foundation, said this year’s tournament featured some new faces and a festive atmosphere.
“The Cary Classic has really become a tradition here in the County,” said Harrigan who coordinates the event for the foundation. “We enjoy seeing players who have been here nearly every year and it was great this year to see a lot of new faces. Having the number of golfers we did along with the generous sponsorship of the Katahdin Trust Company, our hole sponsors, and other contributors has turned the tournament into our largest fund-raising event.”
Jeff Jose with the Caribou Country Club said that weather is always a factor and he said the course was in peak condition.
“We had a lot of comments from players on the quality of the conditions out there on the course,” said Jose. “It was a beautiful weekend with a nice breeze and we had some good scores. Our country club crew along with our tournament committee did another outstanding job.”
The tournament featured the Aroostook Junior Championship for the first time. Hunter Flynn of Presque Isle High School won the championship with a gross score of 162.
“This was a great tournament and a lot of fun,” Flynn said. “It was good to play with some experienced golfers and gain from their knowledge. Everyone was really nice to me and welcomed me to the course. I couldn’t have played with nicer people.”
Peter Doebener, president of the Caribou Country Club board of directors, said that the tournament was one of the finest he can remember.
“This year’s tournament really had it all,” said Doebener, who played in the event and took second low net in Division IV. ”We had great weather, great course conditions and great competitive play.
“This tournament has had a great history and I would have to mark this one down as one of our finest. Knowing that funds raised by the tournament will benefit people with cancer and the new Jefferson Cary Cancer Center also added to the value of the tournament,” he added.
The top three for gross and net in the four men’s divisions and the two ladies’ divisions are as follows:
Men’s Div. I: first gross, Hebert; second gross, Dan Hotham, 154; and third gross, Steve Clark, 154. First net, Carl Flynn, 139; second net, Brent Hatchard, 144; and third net, Erik Anderson, 144.
Men’s Div. II: first gross, Hunter Flynn; second gross, Mike Gagnon, 164; and third gross, Marty Gallant, 166. First net, Bruce Fitzpatrick, 140; second net, Terry Hopkins, 140; and third net, Marc Weeks, 145.
Men’s Div. III: first gross, Eric Brown, 170; second gross, Chris Richards, 172; and third gross, Mark Desmond, 174. First net, Dan Jandreau, 137; second net, Cameron Anderson, 141; and third net, William Tasker, 147.
Men’s Div. IV: first gross, Graden Ouellette, 190; second gross, Jeff Perley, 191; and third gross, Matt Bouchard, 192. First net, Jim Caldwell, 134; second net, Doebener, 148; and third net, Peter Coffey, 150.
Ladies’ Div. I: first gross, Deveau; second gross, Lupita Albert, 166; and third gross, Emily Jose, 173. First net, Bern Michaud, 132; second net, Judy Dombroski, 147; and third net, Vi Kemp, 147.
Ladies’ Div II: first gross: Janice Beaulieu, 191; second gross, Jennifer Flynn, 225; and third gross, Marlene Chasse, 269. First net, Kris Doody, 149; second net, Rachel Damboise, 165; and third net, Andrea Gallagher, 184.
Longest drive winners for the men were Hatchard on Saturday and Clark on Sunday. Emily Jose had the ladies’ longest drive both days.
Closest to the pin winners Saturday were Albert and Jamie Wyman, while Kemp and Erik Anderson were Sunday’s winners.
The Jefferson Cary Foundation establishes a tournament committee that begins meeting in February to plan the event. The tourney will be played next year on July 9 and 10 with a free practice round on Friday, July 8.
