Gannon golfers raise money for Ouimet Scholarship Fund

LYNN – Every Independence Day, the golfers at Gannon Golf Course stage a tournament that serves as a fundraiser for the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund, which gives a scholarship to a male and female employee of the club that is a high school senior.The fund is named in honor of one of the most famous names in American golf: Francis Ouimet.Ouimet grew up in Brookline just across the street from the 11th green of The Country Club. In 1913, the 20-year-old amateur returned to the club he used to caddy at to play in the US Open.Facing two of the era’s greatest professionals – England’s Ted Ray and Harry Vardon – Ouimet found himself tied after 72 holes and in an 18-hole playoff the following day. In that playoff, Ouimet shot 72 to best the two finest players of the era and claim an improbable major championship.He would win the Massachusetts Amateur title later that year and then added the US Amateur title a year later. Ouimet completed his stellar career 17 years later with a second US Amateur title.Ouimet’s win in the Open had a lasting result on American golf. Ten years after his win, the number of American golfers had tripled and many new courses, including several public tracks, were built.Ouimet would later become the only American elected to serve as captain of The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and would have a book and movie chronicling his Cinderella win come along in 2002 and 2005.On Saturday, golfers at Gannon took part in a 4-man, best 2-ball tournament that had AA/BB and CC/DD champions.In the AA/BB flight, the teams of Bill Lynch-Tom Newhall-Ed Monahan-Matt Civiello and Phil McManus-Bruce Gauvain-Ron Young-Kevin Casilli tied for first at 16-under with Lynch’s team getting the nod in a match of cards.Third place went to the team of John Lynch Jr.-Frank Andre-Jim Stafford-Dennis McKee at 15-under with the teams of John Lynch Sr.-Kevin Geaney-Art Cusack-Dan McManus and Joe Divito-Steve Ryback-Mike Jauron-Mike Ostrowski sharing fourth at minus-14.In the CC/DD competition, the quartet of Jim Abernathy-Scott Jones-Jim Rex II-Jim Bellomo took a one-shot victory, finishing at minus-14. Sharing second were the teams of Don Foglietta-John Manning-George Lennon-Don Walker and Paul Gorman-R.C. Lougee-Rudy Troutman-Basil Timmons at 13-under.Chuck Holland-Scott Finnigan-John Spencer-Norm Pashoian and Fred Brandl-Wayne Johnson-Jim McKeever-Ed Pashoian shared fifth at minus-12.Gannon’s Junior Golf Clinic kicks off this morning at 8 a.m. Boys and girls from ages 5-to-18 are invited to come and get free lessons from club professional Mike Foster and several of the club’s members.The program is free and includes nine holes of golf following the lesson portion of the clinic.