The Sixth Annual Jonathan B. Loden Tournament – September 23, 2011
It could be said that Jonathan’s Sixth Annual Tournament at Turf Valley is just a distant memory now, but I don’t think it is one that any of us is likely to forget! As the day approached, a persistent low pressure system hung over much of the Northeast with the potential of dropping several inches of rain in some areas, while leaving others areas with very little precipitation. With this in mind, we hoped for the best and the decision was made to not postpone the tournament. For a while, it looked like we might be in luck, despite what Doppler radar was predicting.
Registration remained relatively dry but then the skies opened up shortly after the shotgun start at 9:00. Having to reschedule the tournament presents a whole new set of problems….not the least of which it could be rainy again…and even worse--COLD! So we were so grateful for our volunteers and golfers for making the best of a wet situation and hanging in there for at least 13 holes until the decision was made to call everyone in. The silver lining was that we were able to start lunch, awards and the speeches a little earlier this year. Most everyone in attendance came to the Cameo Ballroom to dry off, get a drink and food and find out who played well enough in the rain to win something, or who was lucky enough to buy a winning raffle ticket. Our prizes and gift bags were all excellent this year!
Our tournament as we know it now would not be possible if Bryan did not work for the HMSHost Corporation and interact with several people associated with the company. Special thanks go to Frank Sickelsmith, Bill Casey, Jeff Yablum and Stephanie Havard of HMSHost for their unwavering support every year. HMSHost provided four golf hole sponsorships- two from the Restaurant Development Group, one from the South Region and one from Business Development. HMSHost’s relationship with brand partners is also instrumental in the success of the tournament. We are especially thankful to Jeffrey Bartfield of Proximo Spirits who donated the beautiful Under Armour golf shirts in the gift bags (pink for the ladies, blue for the men). We also want to thank Coca Cola for their product donations and the Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams), Budweiser and Corona for helping us fill the gift bags with the goodies!
We have known the staff at Fitness Together in Ellicott City for several years now and have gained many great friends in the process. Felicia Farace, the manger, has volunteered for several years, and has raised the bar on acquiring donations from many generous clients at Fitness Together. Joan Schnorf, who acquired the franchise, last year, chose the Jonathan B. Loden Foundation to partner with in the Howard Magazine this year. They advertized the tournament in their ad and raffled off free sessions, and we are very grateful for the donations. They also rode around in a golf cart during the tournament selling shots of chipotle vodka and cigars for anyone brave enough…those who were agreed that the cigar was necessary to disguise the taste of the vodka!
In addition to Felicia and Joan, we are very grateful for our other volunteers, who come back year after year. Sandy Cornelius, one again, was our volunteer coordinator and does a great job. She and husband Jim sponsored a hole again this year and donated great golf prizes. If anyone were ever to get a hole in one, returnees Vicky and Doug Norton and Sherry Phillips would be the witnesses. This year they waited with baited breath under very big umbrellas… as did Jen Todd, Michele Mursch, Sherri Trenary and Janice Bloodsworth, standing by on hole #13 for the “on the green” prizes.
Winners
In the last few tournaments it was decided to give prizes for the team that comes exactly in the middle of the pack… this year
Hole #five is used for the longest drive contest.
Two golfers from Peter Maller’s Fairway Freaks team won both closest to the pin holes,
Before the awards are distributed to their rightful owners, golfers and volunteers heard the speeches to remind us of why we are all there. After the introduction by Tim Loden, Dr. Bill Waterfield, a general oncologist and good friend, spoke about the importance of remaining current on the latest cancer treatment news. When Jonathan was first diagnosed eight years ago, Bill was a huge help with guiding us through the treatment process and leading us to Dr. Arlene Forastiere at Johns Hopkins. She became Jonathan’s doctor because she is one of the leading authorities on head and neck cancer in the country, especially esophageal cancer. We are privileged to have her return to the tournament year after year to keep us current on the most recent discoveries, partly due to our help with donations to be used at her discretion for research. This year Dr. Forastiere focused on the research that links the HPV virus, which can cause cervical cancer in women, to oral cancer in young men. A vaccine is now available for young men up to age 25 like the Gardisil shot that has been available for girls for several years. Next year Dr. Forastiere has promised to volunteer and be at Turf Valley all day, and we plan to hold her to that!
Although many foursomes at the tournament are made up of family and old friends of Jonathan’s, they are many golfers who never knew him. To remedy that a few years ago, we began having a family member or friends tell a story about him…and it has been a success. This year, Jim Loden, Jonathan’s uncle, wanted the podium and shared memories of special times that they had together. We all laughed and cried….it is usually a bittersweet moment, definitely something that we will continue to do, as it gives everyone a sense of what a unique individual he was…
As in previous years, we had golfers come from far and wide for this tournament (another reason why it is so difficult to postpone to a later date). Minnesota, Ohio, and New Hampshire and Virginia were represented along with Maryland, and family members came from Florida, North Carolina and Texas. It is a testament to Bryan and Tim, indeed the whole Loden family, that virtually all foursomes are filled by family and friends who come back year after year to help us honor Jonathan’s memory. It is a labor of love, and we thank you for helping us.
See you next year at Turf Valley for the Seventh Annual Jonathan B. Loden Memorial Golf Tournament, already scheduled for September 21, 2012!
Registration remained relatively dry but then the skies opened up shortly after the shotgun start at 9:00. Having to reschedule the tournament presents a whole new set of problems….not the least of which it could be rainy again…and even worse--COLD! So we were so grateful for our volunteers and golfers for making the best of a wet situation and hanging in there for at least 13 holes until the decision was made to call everyone in. The silver lining was that we were able to start lunch, awards and the speeches a little earlier this year. Most everyone in attendance came to the Cameo Ballroom to dry off, get a drink and food and find out who played well enough in the rain to win something, or who was lucky enough to buy a winning raffle ticket. Our prizes and gift bags were all excellent this year!
Our tournament as we know it now would not be possible if Bryan did not work for the HMSHost Corporation and interact with several people associated with the company. Special thanks go to Frank Sickelsmith, Bill Casey, Jeff Yablum and Stephanie Havard of HMSHost for their unwavering support every year. HMSHost provided four golf hole sponsorships- two from the Restaurant Development Group, one from the South Region and one from Business Development. HMSHost’s relationship with brand partners is also instrumental in the success of the tournament. We are especially thankful to Jeffrey Bartfield of Proximo Spirits who donated the beautiful Under Armour golf shirts in the gift bags (pink for the ladies, blue for the men). We also want to thank Coca Cola for their product donations and the Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams), Budweiser and Corona for helping us fill the gift bags with the goodies!
We have known the staff at Fitness Together in Ellicott City for several years now and have gained many great friends in the process. Felicia Farace, the manger, has volunteered for several years, and has raised the bar on acquiring donations from many generous clients at Fitness Together. Joan Schnorf, who acquired the franchise, last year, chose the Jonathan B. Loden Foundation to partner with in the Howard Magazine this year. They advertized the tournament in their ad and raffled off free sessions, and we are very grateful for the donations. They also rode around in a golf cart during the tournament selling shots of chipotle vodka and cigars for anyone brave enough…those who were agreed that the cigar was necessary to disguise the taste of the vodka!
In addition to Felicia and Joan, we are very grateful for our other volunteers, who come back year after year. Sandy Cornelius, one again, was our volunteer coordinator and does a great job. She and husband Jim sponsored a hole again this year and donated great golf prizes. If anyone were ever to get a hole in one, returnees Vicky and Doug Norton and Sherry Phillips would be the witnesses. This year they waited with baited breath under very big umbrellas… as did Jen Todd, Michele Mursch, Sherri Trenary and Janice Bloodsworth, standing by on hole #13 for the “on the green” prizes.
Winners
- 1st Place: “HCYP Gold….the Butternut Squashers-Dick, Brian, and Andy Lombardo, and Justin Garwood. This team consistently places first or second every year.
- 2nd Place: Rob and Bryan Bouthner, along with Michael Caveny and Paul Kelley came in second, and generally give the first place team a run for their money every year, sometimes swapping first place with them.
In the last few tournaments it was decided to give prizes for the team that comes exactly in the middle of the pack… this year
- Middle Place: Tim Loden, Bill Waterfield, Jim Cornelius and Chuck Dunham won that distinction.
Hole #five is used for the longest drive contest.
- Longest Drive Women: Newcomer Tracey Dauber
- Longest Drive Men Over 50: Joe (Bunky) Wolf
- Longest Drive Men Under 50: Justin Preston
Two golfers from Peter Maller’s Fairway Freaks team won both closest to the pin holes,
- Closest to the Pin Hole #3: John Donagny at three feet, ten inches
- Closest to the Pin Hole #8: Steve Sullivan at nine feet
Before the awards are distributed to their rightful owners, golfers and volunteers heard the speeches to remind us of why we are all there. After the introduction by Tim Loden, Dr. Bill Waterfield, a general oncologist and good friend, spoke about the importance of remaining current on the latest cancer treatment news. When Jonathan was first diagnosed eight years ago, Bill was a huge help with guiding us through the treatment process and leading us to Dr. Arlene Forastiere at Johns Hopkins. She became Jonathan’s doctor because she is one of the leading authorities on head and neck cancer in the country, especially esophageal cancer. We are privileged to have her return to the tournament year after year to keep us current on the most recent discoveries, partly due to our help with donations to be used at her discretion for research. This year Dr. Forastiere focused on the research that links the HPV virus, which can cause cervical cancer in women, to oral cancer in young men. A vaccine is now available for young men up to age 25 like the Gardisil shot that has been available for girls for several years. Next year Dr. Forastiere has promised to volunteer and be at Turf Valley all day, and we plan to hold her to that!
Although many foursomes at the tournament are made up of family and old friends of Jonathan’s, they are many golfers who never knew him. To remedy that a few years ago, we began having a family member or friends tell a story about him…and it has been a success. This year, Jim Loden, Jonathan’s uncle, wanted the podium and shared memories of special times that they had together. We all laughed and cried….it is usually a bittersweet moment, definitely something that we will continue to do, as it gives everyone a sense of what a unique individual he was…
As in previous years, we had golfers come from far and wide for this tournament (another reason why it is so difficult to postpone to a later date). Minnesota, Ohio, and New Hampshire and Virginia were represented along with Maryland, and family members came from Florida, North Carolina and Texas. It is a testament to Bryan and Tim, indeed the whole Loden family, that virtually all foursomes are filled by family and friends who come back year after year to help us honor Jonathan’s memory. It is a labor of love, and we thank you for helping us.
See you next year at Turf Valley for the Seventh Annual Jonathan B. Loden Memorial Golf Tournament, already scheduled for September 21, 2012!