20th Annual Chuck Scally Memorial Open for Golfers with Disabilities
In 1989 Chuck Scally, Sr. was approached to host D.T. Watson Rehabilitation Hospital’s first Learn to Golf Clinic. Without hesitation Chuck agreed to provide his family’s facility in Moon Township and his vast knowledge of golf to people with various disabilities in order for them to learn or relearn the game of golf. The Annual Learn to Golf Clinic was such a big success that the participants yearned for more, a tournament to put what they learned to use in a competitive format. Thus the first“Physically Challenged Open” was planned.Chuck contacted his good friend Max Mesing, owner of the Fox Run Golf Course to open his facility for the tournament. In 1993 the first “Physically Challenged Open was played at Fox Run. In March of 1996 the game of golf suffered a great loss with the passing of Chuck Scally, Sr. However the Scally family continued their commitment to the annual Learn to Golf Clinic. So to, continued the successful tournament at Fox Run. In 1996 the Scally family graciously agreed to allow the tournament to be renamed the Chuck Scally Memorial Open in honor of the man who gave so much to golfers with disabilities and who was the driving force in getting the tournament started. Eventually, the tournament planning was continued by, Three Rivers Adaptive Sports (TRAS) and HOPE Network. The Scally Family, Fox Run Golf Course and Marc Kowatic of Hanger Orthotics and Prosthetics, however have continued to be a major supporter of the tournament and without their assistance the tournament could not have continued. The 20th Annual Chuck Scally Memorial Open for Golfers with Disabilities was held at the Fox Run Golf Course in Beaver Falls, PA on August 13, 2012. The 20th edition of the Scally Memorial Open was again sponsored by Disabled Sports USA Chapters, Three Rivers Adaptive Sports (TRAS) and HOPE Network. Tournament coordinators were Mark Kulzer of TRAS and John Sikora of HOPE Network. A total of 33 golfers took part in the scramble format tournament. Amazingly 7 of the 8 teams completed the par 72 Fox Run course under par. Competitors in the tournament included people with spinal cord injury, amputations, spina bifid, arthritis, visual impairments, joint replacements, as well as polio, stroke and traumatic brain injury survivors. Following the tournament golfers and volunteers enjoyed a steak dinner, awards presentation and prize raffle at Fox Run. |
20th Annual Chuck Scally Memorial Open
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