Cody Englander
Staff Writer
In 2013, a group of Chautauquans came together to combine their passions for golf and Chautauqua — and to create a new way to give back to the Institution and the local community.
The Slam Slopen was born, and every year around the Fourth of July (with the exception of 2020, thanks to COVID-19), golfers gather for the event to reconnect, enjoy some friendly competition, and raise money for the Institution or a local charity.
“It all started for us to have a reason to spend an afternoon together,” said founder Billy Berg, “and it’s now morphed into a reason to give money to a good cause.”
Thirteen years sine the Slam Slopen tee’d off for the first time, the tournament returned to the Chautauqua Golf Club on Wednesday with 44 golfers split into 11 teams taking to the Hill Course. This summer, the tournament was sponsored by Weed Ross Insurance and FREADom Promotions, both founded by Chautauquans (Sean Cornelius and Brian Floriani, respectively).
At the end of the day, one team came out victorious, and the tournament raised $2,500 for a cause the organizers will announce this weekend.
The aptly named Team Brendan Flood, composed of Brendan Flood, Cullen DeWindt, Jaden DeWindt and Adam Pry, hit 13 strokes under par to win the day.
Two teams hit 12 strokes under par to tie for second place. The tying teams were Team Ben McCauley — composed of Ben McCauley, Pete Arterburn, Daryl Anderson and Eric Anderson — who tied with Team Sam Young, made up of Sam Young, Jeff Edwards, JB Turney and Rob Toomey.
The low-stakes tournament still sparked some friendly competition. When asked about what winning would mean for the only all-girls team of this year’s Slam Slopen, members of Team Laura McCauley (otherwise known as Team Hot Damn) they all responded: “A year of bragging rights.”
Unfortunately, Team Hot Damn did not place.
Some took the tournament more seriously.
“It’s everything. It’s decades of desire and passion. It’s the reason why I got into golf, to win the Slopen,” joked golfer Tristen Rappole.
For Berg, it was about having fun and helping the community.
“It was a great day,” said Berg. “It’s all about some good people coming out and having some fun. It’s a great way for friends and family to come together to celebrate Chautauqua.”
