This year celebrated the 23rd year of the RiteCare Classic – the Scottish Rite golf benefit, which has grown into a major benefit for the RiteCare Speech and Language Clinics. This year’s RiteCare Classic was held on September 30th at Pacific Springs Golf Course, raising nearly $20,000 for the speech and language clinics.

Originally the golf benefit was scheduled for June 27th, but with COVID19 and the pandemic, it was rescheduled for September 30th, to give Pacific Springs enough time to develop protocols for social distancing for golfers.

RiteCare Classic committee chair Buzz Garlock, 32° KCCH welcomed 80 golfers, thanking sponsors and donors for incredible support during a difficult year. “The community really stepped up to sponsor the RiteCare Classic and support speech therapy for Nebraska children,” Buzz said. “We are truly grateful for their generosity.”

Buzz reminded players that the proceeds provide speech therapy, not just for children in Omaha, but across the state. Rural families who may not have immediate access to speech therapists can work with a clinician through telemedicine and receive the same level of services as a child right here in Omaha. These programs didn’t stop just because COVID hit,” he said. “We’ve still got to support our speech therapists and do what we can for Nebraska kids.”

Flight winners were Schadd Gray, Don Venner, Nic Thelen, and Jeff Luna coming in 13 under par. The 2nd place teams at 12 under par were Virgil Johnson, Matt Johnson, Ward Reesman and Steve Sorenson tied with Gary Unger, Bryan Kaufman, Brian Kuntz, and Bob Allen. For the second flight, Walt Keast’s team caem in first at 3 under par with Steve Keast, Craig Hummel and Doug Read on his team. Second place winners at 2 under par were Freddie Clopton, Daniel and David Alati, and Larry Jacobsen on one team and Rick Whitesides, Becky Greer, Pete Larson, and Lenny Bergman on the other team. Winning teams received foursomes for golf, donated by Landscapes Unlimited, which manages the Pacific Springs, Ashland, Dodge-Riverside Park, Platteview, Shoreline, and Player’s Club at Deer Creek courses.

The RiteCare Classic is also indebted to the Speech Clinicians and members of Nebraska Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA) who volunteered throughout the day on the golf course.