With American flags adorning the flagstick on each green, Bellevue Country Club welcomed 27 four-person teams for the third annual PGA HOPE CNY Pro-Am on May 27.
The red, white and blue décor was among the many festive touches for an event celebrate and honor our military veterans and raise funds for the PGA HOPE programs in Central New York.
This year, IBEW Local 43/NECA Finger Lakes Chapter is the presenting partner of the PGA HOPE CNY Pro-Am. 2025 is the first year of a three-year agreement with the tournament and IBEW Local 43/NECA Finger Lakes.
Drumlins’ Team Russell finished first for the second time in three years at 12-under-par 59 playing an 18-hole Captain and Crew format. Team members were Gary Russell, PGA of America Member Sean Dadey (Drumlins CC), Dan Michaels and Connor Wisniewski. First-place trophies were provided by tournament partner Sterling Cut Glass.

Drumlins’ Team Russell
CNY PGA Team Plis, led by Dylan Plis, PGA, came in second at 11-under 60. Other team members were Geoff Plis, Chris Carlson and Russ Carlson.
VISIONS Federal Credit Union earned third place by virtue of a tiebreaker at 10-under 61. The VISIONS teams members were Rick Fredrick, Sean Lavin, Louis Muraco and Kalin Merkley. VISIONS is a presenting partner of PGA HOPE CNY.
New this year was a Veteran low team score division as many teams had at least one military veteran. Sunset Ridge Golf Club took first place with Andy Myers, PGA, Stephen Hall, Benny Schmidt and veteran Roy Barnes.
The tournament began with an opening prayer by Scott Cox. The national anthem was sung by Bill Ali. There also was a military gun salute by veterans in combat uniforms. Each participant received a PGA HOPE bag tag provided by partner Signs by the Sea and golf balls from our partners at OnCore Golf.
A post-tournament reception was held on the Bellevue CC patio for participants. PGA REACH CNY Executive Director, Joe Tesori, PGA recognized tournament partners/sponsors and introduced IBEW Local 43/NECA Finger Lakes Chapter’s Al Marzullo and Marilyn Oppedisano.
Marzullo expressed his gratitude to our veterans and how invested the IBEW Local 43/NECA Finger Lakes Chapter is in programs like PGA HOPE. All dollars raised at this event will go to PGA HOPE CNY programs and post-programming opportunities for our local veteran community.
There were other prizes and raffles throughout the day. They included: *Closest to the pin (sponsored by Upstate Foundation) winners were:
No. 3 Ron Plocek
No. 7 Cam Kyle
No. 15 Brian Conner
Winners received a dozen golf balls from partner OnCore Golf.
* Tito’s Handmade Vodka sponsored a $1,000 hole-in one contest on No. 13 with no winner.
*Longest drive
No. 1 women: Gabby Hass
No. 18 men: Brad Gass
*Kathy Garbooshian won the putting contest and a $500 certificate for merchandise from partner Travis Mathew.
The PGA HOPE CNY Pro-Am would like to express its gratitude to the members and staff at Bellevue, including General Manager Mike Kyle, Heather Shirtz, Assistant GM – Banquets and Catering, and Head Professional Dan Steinsdoerfer, PGA.
Also integral in the success of this event were the following partners: *Media sponsor NewsChannel 9, Sports Director Steve Infanti and Tim Fox *VISIONS Federal Credit Union
*Usherwood Office Technology (Official Gift Sponsor of PGA HOPE CNY)
Raffle prizes were donated by: Syracuse University Athletics, Oakley, CNY PGA, Syracuse Mets, Eric Devendorf Foundation, Syracuse Crunch, LeMoyne College, Orange United and autographed PGA and Senior PGA Championship flags.

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Team Russell
Drumlins' Team Russell
