THURSDAY is the first official day of the Dana Open at Highland Meadows Golf Club.
The Ladies Professional Golf Association tournament, with a purse of $1.75 million in prize money, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. In addition to seeing some great international women’s golfers, the folks who really benefit are the children’s charities. Since 1984, the Dana Open has contributed more than $13.9 million to area children’s charities. Dana Open board chairman Sydney Williams-Birch said it best: the Dana Open is a Champions for Children event.
This year’s recipients include: the Jamie Farr Scholarship Fund of Greater Toledo Community Foundation, the Maumee Habitat for Humanity: Women Build, Nationwide Children’s Hospital-Toledo, ProMedica Russell J. Ebeid Children’s Hospital, and Ronald McDonald House Charities of NW Ohio, the first charity recipient way back when.
The fun actually started on Monday with the kickoff Pro-Am and the Universal Metals team won first place. More Pro-Ams continued through Wednesday.
Also, the 19th Hole Party presented by O-I and Hollywood Casino Toledo was at the casino on Tuesday night. Overlooking the Maumee River on the sunny night were bistro tables covered in peach and centered with white flowers. Many guests also dined indoors where there was a silent auction.
Many waited in line to sample foods from Hollywood’s eateries: Regalo, Shobu by Kengo, Final Cut Steakhouse and Seafood, and other places. Mmm. Sushi, crab cakes, sliders, chicken satay, lamb chops, salmon, cheeses, and more. The $200 per person tickets also included an open wine and beer bar.
There were so many people, they ran out of wristbands.
Just before the party, I talked to Jamie Farr and he said to “give my love to all.” He has “a lot of great memories” of the tournament, he said, commenting the tournament was one big “family” reunion. Farr, who recently turned 90, recalled celebrating his birthday during the tournament. This year, he was on the phone all day with calls from all over the country, including from past LPGA golfer Nancy Lopez . He ended, saying “As Tony Bennett said I left my heart in San Francisco, I left my heart in Toledo!”
Judd Silverman , the tournament’s executive director, mingled through the crowd.
Greeting everyone were party co-chairmen Dana’s Haley Yonker and BGSU’s Elizabeth Elekonich.
Spotted were John and Michelle Hills . She just returned from Wimbledon while John, whose late father was notable golf course architect Arthur Hills, stayed back to play his passion, golf.
Also seen were Matt Simpson , sporting pink sparkly shoes, and Rhonda Simpson , in a tropical print dress and dangle fringe earrings, Joanne Frahn , Dr. Steve Saddemi , Rossford mayor Neil MacKinnon , Trish and Gary Yunker , Keith Burwell , Chad Bringman , Chuck and Kelly Radabaugh , Mark and Sandra Feldstein , Bert and Jen Brady , Bill McDonnell , and McKenna and Greg Reitz .
They were joined by Summer Harris , Pete Gerken , Wendy Bejaige , Kate and Dave O'Connell , Esther and Rick Johnson , Anita Lopez , Bob and Molly Mack , Karen Weidner , Jason and Allison Granger , and gentlemen who gave up the only seats on the patio, Gary Gaynor and Mike Pawlecki .
Some folks had so much fun they stayed after the party was over and even tried their luck at a few games.
More of the social side of the Dana Open will be in my Sunday column.
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