Three guys, a golf tournament, and a legacy

The Wide Open Golf Classic turned into a way to help “give back” to the community, or “pay it forward.” Raising money for the substance abuse programs became the main focus of the tournament. As years went on, money raised from the tournament was also donated to various different organizations in the community.

The Wide Open Golf Tournament has remained sold out every single year since it started. Dr. Matthew Keefe, Ali Keefe, David Regan, Ryan Mains, Fran Amara and Chris Roselli have since taken over the legacy of this tournament and have found ways to continue to support the substance abuse programs in the area.

2017: 187 golfers, and a quarter of a million dollars

In 2017, 187 golfers gathered at Blue Fox Run in Avon for this charity fundraiser. The beneficiaries of the tournament were the substance abuse programs at the Canton, Lewis S. Mills and Northwestern Regional 7 high schools, and also the charity organization “Smile Train.” That year’s tournament raised over $14,000, making the grand total of monies raised over 35 years more than ¼ million dollars.

Bringing Chris Herren to the schools

Since 2012, the Wide Open Committee has invited Chris Herren, a former guard for the Boston Celtics and sought-after motivational speaker, to speak to students at the local high schools. He speaks about his experiences with drugs and alcohol and the eventual loss of his basketball career. The response has been overwhelming, and his presentations seem to have had a real impact in the community.

In 2019 he returned to speak with students about substance abuse, on Tuesday March 19th at Canton High School — with an evening presentation at 7:00 pm at the same location — and on Wednesday March 20th at Northwestern Regional 7 High School and at Lewis Mills High School.

It became a family

The Wide Open Committee remains grateful to all those from Canton Valley Dental who donate their time to work the tournament, to all the local businesses and sponsors for their generous donations, and to the rest of the people who help to make this a success. This tournament has really become a family over the years. We are happy to see those who golf in the tournament every year, and those who are new to the tournament.