HALL OF FAMER LEE SMITH HOSTS
Golf Tourney Raises $50K
For Pathfinder Scholarships
COOPERSTOWN – The team of Bob Schlather, Jeff Wait, Denny Mirabito and Earle Hayford combined for a first-place win at the Pathfinder Village-Baseball Hall of Fame Golf Invitational Tuesday, Sept. 4, at the Leatherstocking Golf Course.
The charity event raised an estimated $50,000 in support of scholarships at Pathfinder, the Edmeston community for people with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities. Another $12,000 will go toward the Hall of Fame ongoing educational programs.
2019 Inductee Lee Smith, the Chicago Cubs relief pitcher, was celebrity host of the tourney, sponsored by The Otesaga Resort Hotel at Leatherstocking for 37 years. NBT Bank and Coca-Cola Bottling of Northern New England were co-sponsors.
The post-Labor Day competition featured 23 foursomes playing a two-best ball format.\
In second with 125 was the NBT Bank/Albany team of Alan Alexander, Jerry Mastriani, John Roberts and Bob Snyder Sr.; third with 126 was Chris Baker, Brian Bruno, Mike Brown and Ron Clark, representing Coca-Cola Bottling.
Other top teams included the NYCM Insurance foursome of Dan Robinson, Bob Snyder, Mike Perrino and Jim Potts (126), and Vince Foti, Dave Weaver, Tim Miller and Brent Patry, representing Community Bank, finished in fifth with a 128.
Perrino and Frank Vergari received Closest to the Pin prizes, at Hole 3 and 12, respectively. In all, over $6,500 were awarded in prizes to the 1st-5th teams.
The tradition of a Hall of Famer as the master of ceremonies began in 2004 and includes: 2018: Carlton Fisk; 2017: Tim Raines; 2016: Rollie Fingers; 2015: Ryne Sandberg; 2014: Bobby Cox; 2013: Rollie Fingers; 2012: Fergie Jenkins; 2011: Johnny Bench; 2010: Jim Rice; 2009: Mike Schmidt; 2008: Harmon Killebrew; 2007: Mike Schmidt; 2006: Robin Roberts; 2005: Carlton Fisk; 2004: Phil Niekro.