Steve Dodds Charity Golf Outing chairman Dennis Hively pumps his fist after sinking a putt during the afternoon round of the charity event Friday at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club. (Photos by James Costello)

LEESBURG – In a weekend full of quality events, the Steve Dodds Charity Golf Outing was one of the standout showcases for the Cancer Care Fund.

Thunderclouds threatened the afternoon round at Tippecanoe Lake Golf Club, but the heavens parted and Friday’s second flight was only barely disturbed by intermittent mistings of rain.

“It could’ve been a lot worse. We’re very fortunate. Actually it seems like the storm parted, and we’re right in the oasis here,” said event chairman Dennis Hively, who played in the afternoon flight. “It’s turned out as good as we could’ve hoped.”

The CCF golf event, which raises money for the Kosciusko County foundation, hosted a pair of flights at Tippecanoe Lake, and champions were crowned for both rounds.

The men’s morning championship went to Silveus Insurance as the team of Chris and Dale McCray, Matt Dick and Lucas Whalen carded a score of 49 at the four-person best ball scramble format tourney. The mixed morning championship went to the team of Tim Harman, Rob Parker, Gary Barnett and Mary Wetzel and their score of 64, while the Lippert Components foursome of Andrew Mock, Ryan Thwaits, Coley Brady and Josh Whitaker won the men’s afternoon championship with a score of 52, and Tom Tuttle, Janet Piepenbrink and Tom and Patty Kelley combined for a 61 to win the mixed p.m. championship. The women’s championship went to Carolyn Davidson, Anne Stewart, Sandy Rutter and Jo Lemon after their round of 59.

Hively, who has served as event chairman the past four years, lined up Hole-in-One sponsors for all the par three’s, and there were also putting contests for the morning and afternoon players, a par three contest, closest-to-the-hole contest and several proximity and long drive contests.

The charity outing typically raises between $30 and $35 thousand for the Kos County CCF, and all of the money stays in the county to help local families manage cancer-related expenses.

“We’re very proud of the fact that 100 percent of the funds raised are kept here in Kosciusko County to help cancer patients and their families,” said Hively. “Sometimes it’s just as little as a gas card to help them get to treatments. It’s just a real show of support from the community.”

Everett Nifong, Kirtus Murray and Chris Wiggins talk while waiting to tee off during Friday’s second round.