ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. – On a beautiful, sunny and balmy Indian Summer afternoon, golfers from across the United States convened for the annual Plast-Chicago Open Golf Outing held on Saturday, September 12, at the Fox Run Golf Links in Elk Grove Village, Ill.
For 17 consecutive years, participants have been coming from all corners of the United States, including California, Colorado, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., and Florida to take part in this very popular and well-attended charity golf tournament hosted by the Chicago-based Pobratymy Foundation.
Women’s winners (from left): Roksolana Lonchyna, Christine Hryhorczuk and Luba Skubiak.
Using a team scramble format to engage the 57 men and women golfers, this outing provided an opportunity for participants to enjoy friendly competition and great camaraderie in a beautiful setting. The fun continued with the traditional post-golf reception and dinner held in the club house, after which the award winners were announced and a raffle of donated articles was held.
The men’s tournament was won with a score of 70 by Roman Mycyk, Oleh Hanowsky, James Abele and Mary Mycyk. The women’s tournament was won by Luba Skubiak, Roksolana Lonchyna and Christine Hryhorczuk.
The men’s and women’s longest drive competitions were won by Mykola Sosenko and Mary Mycyk. The closest to the pin contests were won by James Abele and Paul Stasiuk among men, and by Roksolana Lonchyna and Katrusia Saldan among women. The putting contest was won by Mary Dykun with an exciting hole-in-one, followed by runner-up George Stankevych. Winning the 50/50 charity raffle was Andrew Haliw.
Visiting this year from Michigan, Detroit golfers George Laska, Bohdan Kosniw, Ihor Kunynsky, George Baran and Andrew Haliw said they’d heard a lot about this tournament and decided to make a trip out to Chicago to check it out. They said they had a really nice time and plan on coming back again next year. Similarly, sisters Bohdanna (Bilynsky) Sorensen and Ulana (Bilynsky) Rockstroh and their husbands commented that they had so much fun in Chicago that weekend and at this tournament that they will definitely return for next year’s festivities.
As usual, proceeds from this year’s event will provide continued financial support for Plast and The Pobratymy Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation established in 1992 by members of the Plast Pobratymy fraternity. In the past, the foundation has contributed over $150,000 to further the principles of Plast and Ukrainian scouting to Plast chapters in the United States, Canada and Ukraine.
The foundation also awards contributions to other similar 501(c)(3) organizations that support the stated purpose of the fraternity: “To renew and strengthen Plast, to promote excellence and self-improvement, to encourage identification and cooperation among Ukrainian youth, and to inform others about Ukraine.”
Men’s winners (from left): Roman Mycyk, Mary Mycyk, Oleh Hanowsky and Jim Abele.
Over the past 2 years, a total of $15,000 in donations from this annual tournament have been made to assist in humanitarian relief efforts and support for soldier-members of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, as well as other Ukrainian soldiers and their families who have been injured, wounded or killed in the ongoing struggle against Russia in eastern Ukraine.
The Pobratymy Foundation and tournament organizers expressed gratitude to all of the event’s sponsors and volunteers for their support, generosity and commitment, as they are the life-blood of the annual charity event. Recognized in particular were Katrusia and Roman Saldan, Andy Durbak, Ihor Hrynewycz and Andy Ripeckyj, whose behind-the-scenes help and assistance proved invaluable. (All sponsors are being recognized in a separate paid advertisement placed in The Ukrainian Weekly.)