Funding Drives: Golfers tee up at Sour Mash to raise funds for United Way

The following article first appeared in The Parkersburg News & Sentinel on July 9th, 2024.

A bad day in the Sour Mash Golf Tournament is still better than a good day at work.

The 53rd edition of the tournament, a signature event organized by the United ay Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley, was held Monday at the Parkersburg Country Club in Vienna where 31 foursomes played under clear skies and temperatures in the 90s.

“We’ve had lots of good weather again,” said Stacy Decicco, United Way executive director and an organizer of the golf tourney.

The Sour Mash became a signature event of the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley in 2021 when the organization assumed its reins from the Parkersburg Rotary Club, which established and managed the annual benefit tournament. The year before the United Way took over the annual Festival of Trees.

Besides raising funds for United Way agencies, the United Way also will make a contribution to the Holmes R. “Butch” Shaver Memorial Fund administered by the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation, Decicco said. Shaver, who died in 2022, is this year’s tournament honoree.

The amount has yet to be determined, Decicco said.

The Shaver endowment supports the Alumni for the Future Inc. that supports Parkersburg High School athletic teams with the goal to provide students with more and safer extracurricular athletic activities.

Past tournament honorees include the Ross Foundation and Sam Ross, Pat and Judy Minnite, John Dudley and Mary Welch.

Shaver’s selection was easy, Decicco said.

Shaver, a Parkersburg High graduate, owned a real estate company, was on the Wood County Commission for more than 20 years and was chairman of the United Way campaign in 1978. His legacy in the community will be far reaching into the future, she said.

It was easy to get comments about Shaver, Decicco said. Sometimes people will wait a day to think about what to say about someone, but not in the case of Shaver, she said.

“People didn’t have to struggle to think of words about Butch,” Decicco said.

Tournament activities started with an exhibition by PGA Tour Professional Derek Lamely, who first participated at the Sour Mash in 2023.

The decision to play was easy, Lamely said. Lamely, who was recruited through his sponsor, Callaway, enjoys the tournament, the course and the cause for which it stands.

“It was like a no-brainer,” he said. “If invited back (next year), I’ll be here.”

His playing partner, Adam Chesnut, the pro at the country club, spoke in high esteem of Lamely. Lamely knows the purpose of the tournament, Chesnut said.

“He understands what it is about and that’s appreciated,” he said.

This year, United Way hopes to clear $45,000, but the amount was undetermined as of Monday, Decicco said. All proceeds go into the pool of funds disbursed to United Way agencies, she said.

“Costs have gone up,” Decicco said.

Platinum sponsors for the 2024 tournament are Richard and Liza Adams, Goodwill Industries of the Kanawha Valley and Tri-State Roofing and Sheet Metal.

North Bend Wealth Management is the lunch sponsor. Celanese is the Shirt Sponsor. CAS Cable is the tee gift sponsor. Delrin is the Bloody Mary breakfast sponsor.

Tournament sponsors are United Bank, WVU Medicine Camden Clark, Chemours, Sir Speedy, WMOA Radio and the P.M. Co.

First Neighborhood Bank is the putting contest sponsor. Community Bank is the beverage sponsor. Coplin Health Systems sponsored the hydration station. Birdie sponsors are McClinton Chevrolet, Peoples Bank, Memorial Health System, Kraton and Becky and Jim McGinnis.

Hole sponsors are the Bernard McDonough Foundation, Peoples Bank and Coplin Health Systems.