Carl Cappa Memorial Classic enjoys another successful year

Gregg Bender, left, General Chair of the Carl Cappa Memorial Classic, and Paul Cesana, right, President of TRC Foundation, pose with Matt Holley, who wears the Moon Brook Country Club pullover he received for winning the Special Olympics putting contest.

Near-perfect weather, the generosity of our sponsors and more than 100 golfers combined to make for another successful Carl Cappa Memorial Classic.

The tournament, held August 16 at the picturesque Moon Brook Country Club course near Jamestown, was created in 1997. The event is TRC Foundation’s most successful fund-raiser.  Initial estimates indicated this year’s tournament netted about $52,000 bringing the 14-year total to more than $1.1 million.

The tournament is named for Carl Cappa, the Jamestown businessman and philanthropist who served as the Chair of TRC Foundation’s Board of Directors before he passed away in 2001.  He and the late Sam Restivo started the tournament as a way to raise funds for TRC Foundation.  The Cappa Memorial Classic has become the premier one-day charity golf event in Southwestern New York.

From left, Michael Cappa, the son of event founder Carl Cappa, and Greg Lindstrom, Carl Cappa's grandson, present the RoseMarie Cappa Lindstrom Trophy to the winners of the 14th annual Carl Cappa Memorial Classic: Mike Giunta, Ed Shults, Tom Calalesina and Jon Scalise.  The trophy is named in honor of Carl Cappa's daughter, who died in 2000.

For the 2010 tournament, golfers began arriving mid-morning to register for the event.  Moon Brook hosts a number of tournaments each year, so the club’s expertise, combined with the experience of the Cappa Classic Steering Committee and volunteers from TRC, make for a smooth registration process.  Before the shotgun start at 11:00 a.m. Michael Cappa, who succeeded his father as General Chair of the tournament after Carl died, hit the ceremonial tee shot to officially commence the Cappa Classic.

Golfers then rode in carts out to their appointed starting hole.  The tournament included a number of hole-in-one contest and a putting contest, and golfers were treated to lunch on the course.

After completing their rounds, golfers adjourned to the clubhouse for a social hour.  But the golfing action was not finished.  Those who had participated in the putting contest returned to the practice green for the finals, with Todd Patric emerging victorious.

Immediately following that contest, a group of about 16 local athletes with disabilities participated in the annual Special Olympics putting contest.  Each golfer had three chances at making a putt of more than 30 feet.  After a few competitors hit some close putts, Matt Holley knocked his first attempt into the cup.  Though some of the remaining competitors came close, no one else could match Matt’s feat.  Matt, who also won the competition at the 2005 Cappa Classic, received a Moon Brook pullover for winning this year’s contest, and all of the Special Olympics golfers were given a Cappa Classic T-shirt.

Back inside the Moon Brook clubhouse, it was almost time for dinner.  Mike Kaye, the golf professional at Moon Brook, shared the results of the tournament.  The winning team, with a score of 125 in the four-ball, two better-ball format, was the foursome of Tom Calalesina, Mike Giunta, Jon Scalise, and Ed Shults.  That team also won the Cappa Classic in 2005.

Finishing second with a score of 126 was the team of Mike Goldman, the Secretary of The Resource Center’s Board of Directors; Tom Buffamante, Pete Morgante, and Bill Salter.  Rounding out the top 10 were:

3rd (127) – Mike Barber, Brett Cappa, Scott Cappa, Greg Lindstrom
4th (129) – Jim Cuddy, Mike Doino, Greg Krauza (a member of TRC Foundation’s Board), Dave Scholes
5th (133) – Rod Drake, Jon Gren Jr., Paul Hedin, Tom Olson
6th (133) – Mike Cappa, David Johnson, David Melquist, Peter Sullivan
7th (133) – Bob Ostrom, Todd Patric, Jon Saff, Tad Wright
8th (134) – Gregg Bender, Mike Roberts, Bob Schifano, Jerry Swanson
9th (135) – Tim Anderson, Bill Daly, Rich Dixon, Matt Hartweg
10th (136) – Norm Begier, Charlie Brooks, Red Corsi, Lou DiPalma

Following dinner, Paul Cesana, who is the President of TRC Foundation as well as the Executive Director of The Resource Center, addressed the audience.  Paul gave an example of how people’s attitudes toward individuals with disabilities have evolved in the past few decades, even among those who work in the disability field.  Whereas 10 years ago an individual’s official record might have indicated, “John has behavior issues.  John is able to take a bus to the mall,” today an individual’s record is more personalized: “I sometimes get angry.  I am an independent traveler and like to go to the mall.”

“This gives a sense of how far we’ve come, but also how far we need to go,” Paul said.

He noted that Carl’s wife, Catherine, and many members of the Cappa family were in attendance at the dinner.  Paul noted that Mike Cappa has been instrumental in continuing the tournament’s success by furthering his father’s work.

“Mike has carried on the legacy, and we’re very excited that he and his family are involved in this great tournament.”

Brett Cappa, Mike Goldman and Mike Cappa

Mike deflected the praise, instead crediting Gregg Bender and the members of the Steering Committee for the tournament’s success.  He also thanked the tournament sponsors for their financial support.

Mike said that being able to raise money to improve the lives of persons with disabilities is “what this tournament is all about.”  He told fellow golfers to think everyday about what they’re able to do in contrast to the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities.

“It brings a tear to your eyes,” Mike said.  “Think about these people and what we’re able to do for them.”

Mike Cappa prepares to hit the ceremonial tee shot.

Gregg, the General Chair of the Steering Committee, then presented plaques to the tournament’s major sponsors: the Cappa family; Crawford Furniture Manufacturing Corporation; the Winifred Crawford Dibert Foundation; Moore & Myott; Support Enterprises; DFT Communications; Independent Health; Jamestown Container Corporation; KeyBank; and Premier Consulting Associates.

And the sponsors weren’t the only ones who were generous.  When it came time to select the winners for the prize drawings, Rich Argentieri donated his first-place prize in the cash raffle ($500) back to TRC Foundation.  Rob White followed suit and donated his drcond-place prize ($250) back to TRCF, as did Jerry Swanson ($100) and Brian Lydic ($50).

Steering Committee members include Gregg; Mike, Brett and Scott Cappa of Crawford Furniture; Mike Goldman; Mike Kaye; Brian Lydic, Lake Shore Savings; David Mackowiak of Johnson, Mackowiak & Associates; Ron Sellers, Hospice; Timur Tyra of KeyBank; Frank Vassallo, Moon Brook; Tad Wright of Wright, Wright & Hampton; and Carol Vinciguerra and Kerstin Wyman of TRC.

“We really appreciate your support,” Gregg told audience members as the 14th annual Cappa Classic came to a close, “and please come back next year.”