Twenty eight foursomes enjoyed the day golfing in the United Churches 9th Annual Golf Tournament held on the White Deer Heritage Golf Course on Friday, September 27!

Each golfer received a gift (this year a beautiful duffel bag), breakfast goodies, snacks, grilled hot dogs, and beverages throughout the day. There was a delicious light lunch at the end of the day. Our generous sponsors make sure our golfers are well taken care of all day long, and we invite our golfers and faith community to thank them throughout the year.

Our sponsors help the golfers have a great day golfing, but most importantly they underwrite the ministries United Churches provides in our community throughout the year. Often when asking a sponsor for a donation we hear the response that we need to have the food pantry, the Shepherd of the Streets, the nursing home and prison services and the editorials and devotions available. They all give people hope and resources every day.

Our sponsors are very generous! There were fifteen major sponsors who donated between $200 and $1,000. Thirty one hole sponsors donated $100. Twenty sponsors donated other items like artwork, jewelry and other gift items for the day, with values this year between $70 and $400. Twenty four area restaurants provided gift cards that were used to make three beautiful gift baskets. I lost count of how many times golfers would tell me how amazed they were with the overwhelming support we have throughout the community.

Tournament winners were in two categories this year.

Flight Two – Coming in second place was a team from First Church of Christ Disciples, Williamsport; Dan Aichner, Diane Pysher, Jake Pysher, and Todd Pysher. Coming in first place was a team from Messiah Lutheran Church, South Williamsport; Ed Feinberg, Barry Grove, Mike Larson, and Paul Ulrich.

Flight One – Coming in second place was a team from Muncy Baptist Church; Dave Dunmire, Matt Dunmire, Bob Rice, and Bill Yeagle. Coming in first place was a team from St. John’s-Newberry United Methodist Church, Williamsport; Dan Brown, Keith Harvey, Howard Keiss, and Althea McBride.

Skill shot winners included: closest to the pin – Tim Kitchen, Vicki Fischer, Bob Walker, Sandy Bernan, Judy Mase and Josh Mensinger. Longest drive winners were Pat James and Cheryl Bergey.

United Churches Golf Committee works throughout the year to plan for this day. This year the committee included Rev. Gwen Bernstine, Chair, George Casella, Vicki Fischer, Jim Foran, Phyllis Girven, Patty Gohrs, Don Konkle, Bob Shimp and Yvonne Shenuski. The United Churches Board of Directors and Staff thank them and the volunteers as well as the White Deer staff. This was financially our most successful year to date, and with a few checks yet to come in we have a profit of over $12K.