Benefit Golf Classic is set for Saturday, May 19, at White Birch Golf Course, Barnesville and will be another winner as past tournaments have been, according to organizers Donna Marie Garze and John E. Usalis. The shotgun start, four-person scramble will begin at 8 a.m., followed at its conclusion by a hearty hot meal, liquid refreshments and plenty of door prize drawings. Other prizes are for closest to the pin, longest drive and most accurate drive. All prizes are for both men and women. Also, mulligans will be sold and there will also be a prize drawn for the people who buy them.
Openings are still available for players, and there are two levels of sponsorships.
The tournament began in 1995 as a way for Garze, a Mahanoy City native and lifelong resident, to show her gratitude for the professional and personal help she received from the doctors, nurses and therapists at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital in Allentown after she lost her left leg above the knee following complications after an accident at work. Garze and Usalis serve the organization as president and vice-president, respectively. In addition to those who provided financial help, I also thank everyone who donated their time and talents during last year's tournament. The amount of money raised has been a dream come true. The tournament is just one of many projects in the county that look to the positive in helping others.