Gerri Smith moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky, a few years ago, but that hasn’t kept her from playing in the annual Dr. Bud Charity Golf Tournament.
She was one of the 247 golfers who participated in the 42nd Dr. Bud Graessle event Wednesday at Shadowood Golf Course in Seymour.
“I’ve been playing for 25 years with John Olson, Lisa Zike and Carol Brock,” Smith said. “It’s just so much fun. I moved to Bowling Green, so I’m driving two and a half hours every year to come back and support Schneck hospital, and the scholarships are a great way to do that.”
A total of 39 registered nursing scholarships were awarded this year. Amy Pettit, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer for Schneck Medical Center in Seymour, said that is a record for one year.
“We have both undergraduate scholarship recipients — those are individuals who are in school to become a nurse — and we also have recipients who are getting their master’s degree, whether that be in a nurse practitioner program or family nurse practitioner or a master’s degree in nursing leadership,” she said. “So we’re excited to award scholarships to both levels.”
The event drew a record number of participants as 30 groups played in the tournament Wednesday morning and 32 groups teed off in the afternoon.
Dr. Eric Fish, president and CEO of Schneck, said that’s a great turnout.
”We were able to give away right around $50,000 of scholarships and to nearly 40 kids in the nursing profession,” he said. “We’ve had 42 years of great support, a number of years at the Elks and the last few years (at Shadowood). Ryan (Myers) and the crew at Shadowood have been great hosts for us and very accommodating. It’s great to still have the Graessle family involved and the committee putting this together. They have been huge supporters of the nursing scholarships from their family, which has been wonderful.”
John Wiethoff said he enjoyed playing in the event again this year.
“I’ve played in several of these Dr. Bud tournaments,” he said. “I took a little layoff for a while, but I’ve been coming back and I want to support the hospital. It has been a big part of my life from Day 1, obviously, with my dad and my brother (being doctors), and now, I have many friends there, and now, my daughter-in-law, Natalie Wiethoff, is working there.”
It’s just for a good cause, and it’s so fun, he said.
“So many people come out here just to have fun, and it’s always a good day,” Wiethoff said.
This is the only time Wiethoff plays golf.
“I used to play in a lot more,” he said. “I play golf once a year, and it’s in the Dr. Bud.”
The group of Jim Doolan, Craig Moore, Ron Zike and Parker Wiethoff placed first with a score of 53.
The group of Dave Self, Andon Self, Eli Harmon and Joe Bullard shot 55 to place second, while the foursome of Tyler Hendrix, Matt Lucas, Dave Zarick and Jacob Newkirk was third, also with 55.
Dr. Kris Williams, Dr. Andy Dick, Nate Young and Ryan Untage were fourth with 56, and Andy Lauck, Austin Stonebraker, Gary Lauck and Katherine Neal were fifth, also with 56.
To date, the Dr. Bud scholarship fund has awarded more than $694,000 in registered nursing scholarships. In 2002, 27 registered nursing students received scholarships from the fund.
Special contest holes
Closets to the pin women: Carol Brock
Closet to the pin men: Luke Warren
Longest putt made women: Lainey Jackson
Longest putt made men: Matt Johnson
Longest drive women: Abby Lauck
Longest drive men: Jim Doolan