Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Though not one golfer out of the 32 finalists shot an ace Sunday, the Second Annual Cardinal Center Million Dollar Hole-In-One was considered a success by Cardinal Center.
More than $29,000 was raised for Cardinal Center Inc. The goal for this year was to raise $25,000. Last year, their goal was $15,000 and they netted $27,000.
Several golfers came within 10 feet of the hole. Glenn Thomson, Fort Wayne, won first place with a shot of approximately 7 feet, 2 inches from the hole. Kurt Kamholz came in second - his shot was only 9 feet, three-fourth inch from the hole. Rounding out the top five were Tom Blain, third; Stewart Wysong, fourth; and Ray Harroff, fifth. They each will receive gift certificates for being the closest to the pin.
Several finalists came as far as parts of Michigan, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and South Bend to try to win the million dollars.
More than 800 golfers competed in the qualifying competition July 8 and 9 to attempt to make the finals, shooting more than 13,000 golf balls. The 32 finalists alone shot more than 1,000 balls to get in the finals, according to Jane Greene, CEO Cardinal Center.
In qualifying competition, anyone who paid $1 per swing could hit golf ball(s) at a hole 90 yards away from the tee at golf courses throughout Kosciusko and Marshall counties.
Participating golf courses again this year were Maxwelton and South Shore Golf Clubs in Syracuse, Little Bighorn and Raccoon Run Golf Clubs in Warsaw, Plymouth Rock Golf Club in Plymouth and Sprig-O-Mint Golf Club, Bremen.
The five people closest to the pin at each location won qualification prizes and advanced to the final competition Sunday at Stonehenge Golf Course, Warsaw.
Final competition requires a longer drive of 135-yards to the pin. If any finalist made a hole-in-one on the "Million Dollar Hole" during the finals, the million dollars would have been split equally between the golfer and Cardinal Center Inc.
The golf shoot-out proceeds will be used for the Cardinal Center endowment. Cardinal Center is a not-for-profit human service organization that provides services to both adults and children with disabilities and other needs.
They serve adults in five counties, including Kosciusko, Fulton, Marshall, Cass and Carroll.
More than 150 volunteers helped with the shoot-out. Many area corporations, businesses and individuals sponsored the event with various donations and volunteer time.
R.R. Donnelley and Sons Co., was the premier sponsor for the second consecutive year. In addition to providing funds to help cover some of the event expenses, nearly 100 Donnelley employees volunteered their time.
