Veterans unite for each other
SUMMIT TWP — The rain came and went.
The patriotism stuck around.
The ninth annual “Operation Sandtrap” golf outing — played by veterans to help needy veterans — took place Saturday at Hiland Golf Course.
This year's four-person best ball event featured 128 veterans and 32 teams.
“We could have had a full field, but I was concerned about the weather,” tournament director Buck Ridley said. “I didn't want to bring in more golfers, then have to call it off.”
Ridley said he could have added “another six teams easy” to the field. This event has had a waiting list for a couple of years now.
One has to be a veteran to play in it.
One veteran who has never missed the golf outing is Myrtle Beach (S.C.) resident Jim Stevens, who knew Ridley since they were 2 years old.
“We grew up one house apart,” Stevens said. “I'll fly up for that event every year. I'll never miss it.
“Buck's a buddy and it's a great thing he's put together.”
Stevens was a member of the Army National Guard.
Saturday's outing raised $2,000 for homeless and needy veterans in the Butler County area. Operaton Sandtrap has raised $30,000 for them since its inception in 2010.
“The only money we give back to the golfers is through the skins game and the 50-50 drawing,” said Ridley, a Chicora resident.
“There was a threatening weather forecast, but it rained for maybe 20 minutes. The skies cleared and we were good to go.”
Ridley and Stevens are both Karns City graduates.
While Stevens came up from Myrtle Beach to golf, another veteran came in from Alabama. Another was from the Harrisburg area, another from Ohio.
“Veterans come from all over this region, too,” Ridley said. “Kittanning, Butler, Parker and everywhere in between, it seemed.”
The winning foursome of Danny Notareschi, Randy Lineman, Bill Albert and Bob Tritch shot 10-under-par. They had their choice of a free round of golf from any of the courses that donated a round. They chose Olde Stonewall.
Other contributing courses were Foxburg, Hiland, Aubrey's Dubb's Dred, Oakview and Bavarian Hills.
Chloe Fritch, 12, of Chicora sang the national anthem. the Bradys Bend American Legion performed the honor guard services and the Riders of the American Legion did the flag line during opening ceremonies.
“It's a lot of work to put that whole thing together, but Buck loves it,” Stevens said. “He's very patriotic and he cares about all veterans.”
All branches of the military — Coast Guard, Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, etc. — were represented at the outing.
“That was very cool,” Stevens said. “Nobody is excluded. And like I said, I'll never miss it.”
