CARIBOU, Maine — The rain did all it could to deter participants from this year’s Cary Classic Benefit Golf Tournament at the Caribou Country Club. The Cary Classic’s 40th anniversary tournament was forced to delay play several times due to storms, and eventually postponed to the Sunday rain date. The tournament still brought in a record number of 116 golfers, including several past champions, and new participants as well.
Eric Depner of Caribou took home the grand prize for the Men’s Division I Low Gross with an 18-hole score of 71. Emily Jose of Caribou took home the grand prize for the Ladies Division I Low Gross, finishing with a score of 77. This is Jose’s 10th tournament win and Depner’s first tournament win. The Cary Classic featured nearly $7,000 in prizes, including longest drive, closest-to-the pin and four opportunities at a hole-in-one prize, including one for $50,000.
In addition to the cash, first-place winners were presented with glassware commemorating the 40th Cary Classic Tournament and the low gross winners were presented with the Norman Collins Award. The award was dedicated in memory of Collins’ legacy. Collins passed earlier this year. He was an avid golfer, supporter of the Caribou community, Cary Medical Center and former Cary Medical Center and Jefferson Cary Foundation board member.
Collins’ sister-in-law Wanda Theriault spoke on behalf of the Collins family, “Golf has always been more than a game for Norm. It’s a passion he has shared with friends, family, and fellow enthusiasts over the years. His love for the support is matched only by his dedication to the community. Throughout countless hours of volunteering and mentoring Norm has made a lasting impact on many lives. We would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the Jefferson Cary Foundation for this incredible honor. It is a testament to Norm’s hard work and the positive influence he has had on everyone around him. We also want to express our gratitude to all the organizers and supporters of the Cary Classic Golf Tournament for making this event possible.”
During the award ceremony Katahdin Trust Company was presented an award in recognition of their decade long partnership as Corporate Sponsor of the Classic. “It truly has been an honor to be the Major Sponsor of this event for the past decade,” said Craig Staples, vice president and commercial services officer for Katahdin Trust. “The Jefferson Cary Foundation and Caribou Country Club does a great job with this tournament, in spite of the rain this past weekend, they still managed to hit this tournament out of the park!”
More than 50 other businesses, organizations and individuals generously contributed as sponsors. Chelsey Anderson, executive director of the Jefferson Cary Foundation, was grateful for the generosity and support from the area, “This event has continued successfully for 40 years. It would be impossible without the incredible generosity of area businesses, organizations, and individuals.”
The tournament also featured food trucks, a silent auction; featuring items donated by the New England Patriots, Boston Red Sox, Portland Sea Dogs and area businesses, and a Cornhole for a Cause challenge hosted by Katahdin Trust Company. The Cornhole for a Cause challenge raised an additional $1,000 in funds for Cary Medical Center.
“Not only are the sponsors important, but our golfers, staff and volunteers cannot go unrecognized,” said Anderson, who organized the golf tournament for the first time this year. “We are thrilled with the record numbers, and to have brought many new faces to the event, but also welcome back returning players. It truly takes a village and this year was no different. With the rain the event turned into a two day tournament, but the golfers pretty much took it in stride. Staff and volunteers returned the next day, hours before play, to survey the damage and repair cart paths, so the Cary Classic could continue. It was an amazing show of teamwork and resilience by all tournament participants.”
The Cary Classic Benefit Golf Tournament is the largest fundraiser organized by the Jefferson Cary Foundation. Over the years more than $400,000 has been raised through the Cary Classic. Proceeds from this year’s tournament will be used to help purchase new equipment for the newly renovated Maternal/Child floor at Cary Medical Center.
Winners from the 40th Cary Classic Golf Tournament are:
Men’S Flight A
1st Low Gross Eric Depner – 71
2nd Low Gross Ben Rosser – 74
3rd Low Gross Jamie Leavitt – 74
1st Low Net Parker Deprey – 67
2nd Low Net Kyle Grooms – 71
3rd Low Net Hunter Flynn- 72
Ladies Flight A
1st Low Gross Emily Jose-77
2nd Low Gross Dee Pelletier – 88
3rd Low Gross Judy Richards – 100
1st Low Net Jane Hunter – 75
2nd Low Net Mary Umphrey- 81
3rd Low Net Rachel Bates – 82
Men’s Flight B
1st Low Gross Clint Deschene – 78
2nd Low Gross Travis Beaulieu – 80
3rd Low Gross Ellis Pelletier – 82
1st Low Net Ted Walker – 70
2nd Low Net Harrison Fitzpatrick – 73
3rd Low Net Allen Conner – 74
Ladies Flight B
1st Low Gross Janice Beaulieu – 105
2nd Low Gross Barbara Spring – 108
3rd Low Gross Searra Herbert- 144
1st Low Net Mary Anderson- 71
2nd Low Net Darlene Higgins- 83
Men’s Flight C
1st Low Gross Curt Anderson – 82
2nd Low Gross John Albert – 85
3rd Low Gross Jason Gurley – 85
1st Low Nets Brady Barnes – 70
2nd Low Net Michael Green – 71
3rd Low Net Cory Herbert – 71
Men’s Flight D
1st Low Gross Riley Bouchard- 86
2nd Low Gross Troy Connolly – 90
3rd Low Gross Craig Gustafson – 98
1st Low Net Jeremie Raymond- 69
2nd Low Net Chad Brewer – 71
3rd Low Net Evan Graves – 81
Sr. men’s flight
1st Low Gross Jeffrey Jose – 76
2nd Low Gross Sam Townsend – 77
3rd Low Gross Dan Cyr – 83
1st Low Net Kevin Anderson – 69
2nd Low Net Check Pelletier – 72
3rd Low Net Hiram Towle – 74
Closest to the pin
Men’s #3/12 Mike Boone 6’ 2”
Men’s #7/16 Neal Griffeth 5’ 2¾”
Ladies #3/12 Rachel Bates 46’ 6”
Ladies #7/16 Emily Jose 7’ 6”
Longest drive
Men’s #8/17 Jeff Jose
Ladies #8/17 Emily Jose
