Again this year, Lake County Motors in Jamestown is sponsoring a hole-in-one contest at the Carl Cappa Memorial Classic. The first person to make a hole-in-one on the 17th hole will win a 36-month lease on a Jeep Sport Wrangler. Promoting the contest are, from left, Gregg Bender, the Chair of the Carl Cappa Memorial Classic’s steering committee; Mike Cappa, the Honorary Chair of the Cappa Memorial Classic; and Jerry Swanson, the Owner of Lake County Motors.
The Carl Cappa Memorial Classic will tee up for its 14th year August 16 when more than two dozen foursomes take to the links at Moon Brook Country Club near Jamestown.
The tournament was founded by Carl and the late Sam Restivo as a way to raise money for what was then a new entity, TRC Foundation. In its first 13 years, the Cappa Memorial Classic has netted more than $1 million for the foundation, which seeks to meet the unfunded needs of people with disabling conditions, and their families, in Chautauqua County.
Carl, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Crawford Furniture Manufacturing Corp. who was the Chair of TRC Foundation’s Board of Directors, guided the tournament to tremendous success in its early years. Following Carl’s death in 2001 his son, Michael, took over as the tournament’s Honorary Chair. With the help of his mother, Catherine, and a dedicated steering committee, Mike has continued his father’s legacy by enhancing the Cappa Classic’s success. Mike’s sons, Brett and Scott, also serve on the tournament’s Steering Committee.
“My dad had three values – family first, then Crawford, and this golf tournament,” Mike said. “I share those same values, and as I’ve said before, as long as I’m around, I will work with the committee to assure this tournament will continue to be successful.”
Paul Cesana, TRC Foundation’s President, said the tournament “long has been regarded as one of the premier charity golf events in Southwestern New York.” He said the tournament’s players and sponsors “can take pride in knowing that their support of the Carl Cappa Memorial Classic helps to make a real difference in the lives of individuals with disabling conditions in Chautauqua County.”
Gregg Bender, the tournament’s General Chairman, puts credit for the event’s success squarely on the sponsors, who year after year step up to support a great cause and honor a great human being. “We are continually amazed at the genuine support for our event and that of Carl’s legacy,” Gregg said.
Steering Committee members include Gregg; Mike, Brett and Scott Cappa of Crawford Furniture; R. Michael Goldman, Esq., the Secretary of The Resource Center’s Board; Mike Kaye of Moon Brook Country Club; Brian Lydic, Lake Shore Savings; David Mackowiak of Johnson, Mackowiak & Associates; Ron Sellers, Hospice; Timur Tyra, KeyBank; Frank Vassallo, Moon Brook; Tad Wright, Esq., of Wright, Wright & Hampton; and Carol Vinciguerra and Kerstin Wyman of TRC.
The tournament features a four-ball, two best-ball format. In what has become a tradition at the event, a group of Chautauqua County Special Olympians will participate in a putting contest following the completion of the Cappa Classic tournament.
The Cappa Memorial Classic Steering Committee and TRC Foundation extend their gratitude to everyone who is sponsoring this year’s tournament. The tournament sponsors are Catherine Cappa and the Cappa family. Major corporate sponsors include Crawford Furniture; the Winifred Crawford Dibert Foundation; Moore & Myott; Support Enterprises; DFT Communications; Independent Health; Jamestown Container Corp.; KeyBank; and Premier Consulting Associates.
There are still opportunities for businesses to sponsor the event. Anyone interested should contact Gregg Bender at 661-1542 or Mike Cappa at 661-9100.
Catherine Cappa and her son, Michael, present a ceremonial check to Paul Cesana, right, the President of TRC Foundation. The check represents the net proceeds from the 2009 Carl Cappa Memorial Classic.