Bruce Sutherland Memorial Golf Tournament: Public invited to participate in putting contest with $1,000 in prize money

The Bruce Sutherland Memorial Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, May 16, at the Niagara Frontier Golf Club in Youngstown. Funds raised will go to the Historical Association and the Lewiston Museum, and the VFW Post 7487 scholarship fund – two local causes that Sutherland had volunteered and worked for in the past. Bruce was a respected community leader who unexpectedly passed away in December.

Information on how to participate and support the effort can be found online at historiclewiston.org or by calling the Lewiston Museum at 716-754-4214. A dinner-only option is also available for those interested in celebrating Bruce’s life and legacy. Additional sponsors are also encouraged.

One of the more interesting aspects of the tournament is an unusually generous putting contest, open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Frontier Golf Club at 1058 Lake Road in Youngstown.

"When was the last time anyone had a chance to sink a putt and win $1,000 cash?" asked volunteer tournament director Ken Slaugenhoupt.

Anyone can participate, and the general public is invited to come out and give it a shot. For a $20 donation (check or cash), putters will get four chances to sink a 35-foot shot. Everyone who sinks a putt will share equally in the $1,000 prize money. If only one player makes it, he or she will get the entire $1,000. One can enter the putting contest as many times as they like. 

"The great thing about a putting contest is that everyone, even non-golfers, can participate," Slaugenhoupt said. "Golf can be very strange. While accomplished golfers agonize over their putting game, someone brand-new can walk on a green and sink a putt the first time they try. Everyone knows what it’s like to play Putt-Putt golf. You just never know."

The contest is sponsored by Tom Deal of Deal Realty, and the Simonson family – both close friends with the Sutherland family.

No reservations are necessary for the putting contest and volunteers will be there to help. One can bring their own putter and golf balls, or use those supplied by the club.

No practice strokes will be allowed on the contest green.