The 2009 rendition of the Kenny Classic turned out to be a very special year for this annual event. Not because there were all-time high turnouts, or record low scores, or holes-in-one, or landmark amounts of money raised for the Barton Center. It was special because - unlike many other tournaments and charity events in this economically challenging times - it took place, as scheduled. This year's KC was missing a few foursomes from its usual playing field size, and was down a couple of sponsors from previous years. But those who were able to support the event, and able to play in it, made it a truly great day for all involved! On Friday, June 26th, 104 golfers braved threatening skies and ominous forecasts to play at Hampden Country Club. It was a quality field of players, as 15 of the 26 teams posted scores of par 72 or better, despite some wet conditions and playing through a 15-minute rain shower. Overall, the scoring average the lowest the KC has seen in its three years at Hampden. Click here to see the 2009 KC Leaderboard. For the first time since 2005 there were new names to be engraved on the KC's Championship Cup, as the team of Dan Akey, Andy Noyes, Mike Duclos and George Oulundsen took low medalist honors with a 12-under-par 60. Long a competitive foursome at the Classic, this team captured the title at the Tradition at Windsor back in 2003, and also had a top three finish in 2000. A card match had to decide the placement of the following two teams, both of which shot -9 63's. Eventually, the nod went to Bob Beckwith, Jim Boudreau, Gordie Forsberg, and Lan Goodwin. The nucleus of this team has been in the top three in each of the last three Championships, and Lan was the low medalist in KC II way back in 1995 when the Classic was an individual, stroke-play event! Finishing in third position after the card match was the three-time defending champion team of Bob Provost, Bob Caouette, KC Findley and Dennis Booska. The historic run of titles for this team is unprecedented in the Kenny Classic record book, and is a record that is sure to stand for a considerable length of time. Low Net honors went to the team of Mike Adomelis, Jack Brown, Bob Broderick and Jim Nascimento, with a score of 54. There was a tie for 2nd Low Net at 56, with the card match saying, "ladies first!" Peggy Brady, Kitty Brock, Eileen Cyr and Megan McGwire took second, followed by the team of Bill Eagan, Kirk Farquharson, Mike Farquharson, and Mike McCartney. Joe Kais won the Closest to the Pin Contest on #12 with a distance of 5'8", while Bob Kelley captured the lucrative 50/50 prize Closest to the Pin Contest on #15 with a shot that stopped 4' 6" from the hole. The Longest Drive Contest winners this year on #8 were Jenny Bourgeois and Lee Craig. The post-tournament party hosted by the fine food service staff of Hampden CC was a great time, albeit one where the participants had to show some flexibility!!! With the forecast warning of impending severe thunderstorms, the Hampden staff fearlessly prepared the buffet dinner spread outside, and most of the Classic's attendees ate outside. As soon as dinner was over, the weather turned ugly, and the t-storms arrived! Hampden's party crew was ready for it, and had the bar area converted for an indoor version of the post-Classic bash. Thanks to the generosity of the participants and the many friends and sponsors of the KC, the Super Raffle prize table was incredibly stocked with over 50 gift packages, ranging in value from $75 to over $300, and many folks walked away with nice raffle prizes. The silent auction was active, too, with several fine items up for bidding, including wonderful golf weekends at The Samoset Resort, Wentworth-By-The-Sea, and The Sagamore Resort, a fun weekend in Springfield - with accommodations at the Springfield Marriott and tickets to Six Flags New England and the Basketball Hall of Fame (with a $100 American Express gift card), box seats for four for a Red Sox game, James Taylor concert at Tanglewood for four (including the picnic basket!), great baseball and basketball sports collectibles, and much more! Thanks to all of you, we had a great time, and the event raised $13,300 for the Robert J. Kenny Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Clara Barton Camp - an incredible amount of money in these economic times! Over the 16 years of its existence, the KC participants and sponsors have raised close to $175,000 to help kids with diabetes. To all of you who were there - whether it was your first or your 16th time at the KC - WE THANK YOU! Please spend some time at this website, checking out the photos of KC 2009 as well as those of years past, the KC's wonderful Sponsors, Friends, and Volunteers, and the Classic's Hall of Fame which features an All-Time Kenny Classic Players Directory. Leave us feedback in the Guest Book - we check it! Bookmark the site, and come back often! Hope to see you all for the 17th Annual Kenny Classic on June 25, 2010! |
The 2009 Low Gross Champions - from left, George Oulundsen, Mike Duclos, Dan Akey, and Andy Noyes. |
