United Way celebrates the history of the Sour Mash

The following article first appeared in The Parkersburg News & Sentinel on July 11th, 2023.

The annual Sour Mash Open is the oldest charity golf tournament in the community.

The United Way is the primary organizer of the event, and this year put an emphasis on celebrating the Sour Mash’s history during its 52nd edition Monday at Parkersburg Country Club.

Stacy DeCicco is the executive director of the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley. This was her third year organizing the Sour Mash.

“We try to honor the tradition of the tournament,” DeCicco said. “The tournament was truly born here at the club 50-some years ago. Four or five guys sitting around, drinking a bottle of Sour Mash, and they decided to do a charity a tournament.

“We try to really honor the history of the tournament.”

This year’s Sour Mash filled up fast, despite adding three more teams. Golfers were treated to a Bourbon Trail putting green and also a cigar bar.

“Goodwill Industries sponsored a cigar bar,” DeCicco said. “Everybody came in and claimed a cigar and a cigar cutter that’s monogrammed for Goodwill. They’ve had a tent set up all day and people have been taking advantage of it, stopping at the putting green and going to the cigar bar. We’ve just tried really hard to bring some new energy to it.”

The day kicked off around 8:30 a.m. when DeCicco and club pro Adam Chesnut directed a kids clinic, teaching youth about the science of golf.

“We had about 60 kids here for that this morning so that was cool,” DeCicco said.

PGA Tour star Derek Lamely followed with a clinic and exhibition prior to the 10 a.m. shotgun start.

Lamely golfed alongside Chesnut with the featured foursome of Don Dooley, Greg Essig, Larry Willis and Allen Bell, last year’s winners.

DeCicco estimated that this year’s Sour Mash generated upwards of $40,000 toward the United Way campaign.

“Our sponsorship is really strong in this tournament,” she said. “We’re bringing a lot of new golfers to the field, and we’re seeing new sponsors, so we think that means the tournament is super sustainable.”

Prior to the awards ceremony, Tres Ross spoke on behalf of his father, Sam Ross, and the Ross Foundation, this year’s honoree. Sam Ross, a local businessman and philanthropist, passed away last year.

Despite the recent trend of precipitation in the area, golfers competed Monday under mostly sunny skies.

“All the monsoons we’ve had — we got lucky today,” DeCicco said. “Knock on wood, since we took over the tournament three years ago we’ve had rain the day before every year, but never the day of.”