UNIVERSITY PARK — The Centre County chapter of the Soroptimists International held its sixth annual Soroptimist Classic Golf Tournament at Penn State’s Blue Course on Monday, Sept. 10.
The tournament, which benefits the Soroptimist’s charities, was played in a scramble format and featured 48 golfers arranged in women’s, men’s and co-ed foursomes.
The term Soroptimist literally means “for women,” and the organization is dedicated to promoting women and girls through education and other programs.
According to their website, Soroptimists believe “the most effective way to empower women and girls is by providing them with access to education. Educated women and girls are far more likely to realize their potential.”
The organization annually disburses about $1.7 million in education grants to more than 1,200 women who have overcome “enormous personal obstacles.” The golf tournament is one way the local chapter funds its local grant winners.
There is also a program called Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls, which is the newest Soroptimist program, along with an online community called LiveYourDream.org, which offers volunteer opportunities for women and girls.
The Centre County club also works with many projects benefiting women, such as Centre Volunteers in Medicine, Centre Housing Transitions, Park Forest Day Nursery, State College Area Food Bank, Stormbreak Girls’ Shelter, Centre Safe and others.
The Golf Classic is a major fundraiser for the local club, and it helps fund the one or two local women who receive the Education and Training Awards.
This year’s tournament was, according to club member and organizer Dee Bagshaw, another great success.
“This is our sixth year,” Bagshaw said. “And it has been very good. We were initially looking for something to be our signature fundraiser, get our name out into the community a little bit more, raise some funds for our work.
“The last couple years we have been very happy to be here at Penn State, with our primary recipient of the tournament funds being our dream program. We are not a large tournament, between 40 and 60 players, and we have some fun games like a betting hole and a putting contest.
“We then have a lunch and an awards ceremony hosted by Carolyn Donaldson. There will be prizes for closest to the pin and longest drive and first and second prizes for our foursomes — both men and women and co-ed.
“For the tournament, we have a planning committee, with Carolyn Follett, myself, Carol Pioli, Maryanne Fritzsche, Janice Lingle and lots of volunteers. This has been a really good tournament and partnership with Penn State, and the recipients are the young women we support with our awards.”
In the tournament, the First Place Women’s Trophy went to Sue Cromwell, Joan Richey, Traci Richardson and Peggy Smith; the First Place Men went to Blake Gall, Randy Bowers, Dick Althouse and Dan Sieminski; and First Place Co-ed went to Gloria Gladd, Karen Krupa, Martha Agona and John Zipp.
The Longest Drive winners were Tracy Richardson and Bob Fataske and the Straightest Drive winners were Sue Sheets and Jason Bodner. Leland Engle and Elaine Barch won Closest to the Pin.
Emcee Carolyn Donaldson also announced other winners from the putting contest, 50-50 drawing and door prizes.
Anyone interested in more information about the Soroptimists of Centre County can visit soroptimistcentrecounty.org.
