By Lynn Saternow

Herald Sports Editor

GOLF TOURNAMENTS aid a lot of charity causes, but oftentimes the cause — as well as the enjoyment — drive the interest in the tournament.

Such was the case with the “Bloody Mary Open” which recently celebrated its 14th year in raising funds to help special needs children.

“When it started, it was just a small group and we simply wanted people to enjoy golf,” said Rosanne Jackal, who operates Jess’s Restaurant in Hermitage. “It was just a bunch of friends getting together from work. We did a 50-50 raffle and I think we raised $100 for special needs children then.”

Rosanne and Jess’s son Brian, now 29, was designated as a special needs child, so the group opted on that charity.

When the tournament started, then at Borland Golf Center, New Wilmington, it really didn’t have a name. “We always kicked it off by drinking Bloody Marys,” said Rosanne. “But people who heard about it and wanted to play started calling the course and asking, ‘How can I get in that Bloody Mary Open?’ So we adopted the name.”

Over the years, the event has been played at Borland, Hickory VFW, Tanglewood and for the first time this year at Tam O’Shanter. And while the tourney has grown, so has the fund-raising.

“The last three years we hit the $15,000 mark each year,” said Rosanne. “The lion’s share goes to the Fun in Sun Camp at Hermitage Elementary School. It’s a camp for special needs children that runs for about a month, starting a week after the 4th of July.

“Tim Magnotto and Mike Jones run the camp, which usually has between 60 and 80 kids. It was started by Larry and Gayne Bortz.

“We get a lot of financial support. The community does kick in and people have been very generous.”

ä The Mercer Wednesday Morning Ladies Golf League this summer held a Rally for the Cure with proceeds going to the Mercer Race for a Cure to battle breast cancer.

Twenty-eight golfers participated in the event at Mercer Golf Course. Sue Coppola won first prize, with Mary Willson taking 2nd in the closest-to-the pin contest.

ä They say that the “early bird catches the worm.” Sometimes the early player wins at golf events also.