Golf Classic 2008

A beautiful, cloudless day greeted 88 golfers that participated in this year’s 2008 BuckEYE Golf Classic. The past two golf outings had good weather, but this year was outstanding. With The Ohio State University Buckeyes’ Football Coach Jim Tressel on hand to support the charity outing, the day was a tremendous success.

The golfers showed up early to stand in line to buy an autographed football and take a photo with Coach Tressel. “With over a hundred footballs we thought for sure we’d have extra, but we sold out without a single to spare,” said Laura Sladoje, Outreach Director for the Havener Eye Institute. “We were thrilled to have Jim Tressel as our special guest this year, and knew it would be a great opportunity to raise money for the residents”.

The BuckEYE Golf Classic started as a way to raise money for the OSU Department of Ophthalmology. Proceeds from the fi rst BuckEYE Golf Classic with Archie Griffi n enabled the department to buy the expensive textbooks that are required for the residents.

Last year, the 2007 BuckEYE Golf Classic had OSU Basketball Coach Thad Matta as the special guest. With Coach Matta on board, the department was able to raise enough money to completely update one of the examination rooms in the resident clinic. “The resident clinic’s exam rooms are in critical need of new equipment,” said Dr. Alan Letson, Havener Eye Institute Residency Director, “Without the proceeds from the BuckEYE Golf Classic, it wouldn’t have been possible.”

Ellen Tressel was also on hand to lend her generous support by exhibiting her talent as an excellent golfer. She led a foursome that shot 12 under par and tied for 3rd Place. The 2008 BuckEYE Golf Classic raised over $65,000. “Along with the golfers, we had so many wonderful sponsors this year, Fifth Third Bank, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Daimler Construction*,” said Sladoje, “the support from the community was just amazing."

"This year’s outing will bring us closer to our goal of purchasing updated equipment for the whole resident clinic,” said Letson. “Outfitting the patient rooms with state-of-art examination and diagnostic equipment is giving these young physicians the tools to succeed. At the Havener Eye Institute, we believe that together we can improve the future of eye care by educating tomorrow’s physicians.

The BuckEYE Golf Classic is helping us reach that goal.” Over the past three years, the Havener Eye Institute’s Annual BuckEYE Golf Classic has raised over $120,000 for endowments and resident education funds.