74th Annual Golf Classic

Shortly after the last table had gotten its food, the middle sons were called to the front to line up and introduce their families in turn.  In addition to introducing the families, those at the podium were quick to thank the Lauer and Williams families for the outstanding job of organizing, and full of compliments for the course , facilities and staff at Rebel Creek Golf Club.

Throughout the introductions the importance of family was a common refrain, with some personal and poignant remarks by several sons, one of whom reminded the group that “as long as you have family that will stick by you, you can get through anything.”  Another son, pointing out  the importance of the tournament for his family remarked “this isn’t just the highlight of my father’s year, it’s the highlight of his life.”  This year marked the return of the Critelli family, whose last appearance had been in 1984, and the once again annual appearance of the MacDonald family, who returned to the tournament in 2008 after a 31 year hiatus.

While introducing his family, Scott Finlayson read aloud a letter from his father, Fred, who  was unable to play due to a long and difficult rehabilitation from hip and knee surgery.  Having his grandson play in his stead so as to not leave the organizers short a team they had planned on, Fred wanted the group to know how important the tournament was to him and his family.  Choked with emotion, Scott read his father’s words conveying the importance of this tradition for his family.  Fred considers this tournament a major motivation to return to health, holding up Tom Watson as a hip recipient who came back as good as ever!  Those words drew a standing ovation from the group, and calls of well-wishing to the Finlaysons to be carried to their father.