Jack Lovejoy Memorial Golf Outing raised $13,231 for scholarships

Nineteen teams, a total of 77 players, came together at the fifth annual Jack Lovejoy Memorial Outing on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 at Macktown Golf Course. The golf event was held in remembrance of Jack Lovejoy, a Hononegah High School alumni who remained a strong community supporter and volunteer throughout his life.

The Rockton Lions started the golf play day in 2017. In the second year, Jack passed away on May 7 and the golf play was renamed in his memory in 2018.

Jillian Porter served as this year's event coordinator. Porter joined the committee in 2019 where she first worked as a volunteer. In 2021 she coordinated the silent auction. This year marks the second that she has been the overall event coordinator.

Porter was joined by a hard working committee including Jack Deem, Stacy Doorman, Terrie Garlow, Andy Honkamp, Bailey Robinson, Chris Robinson, Terry Robinson, Angie Schmoldt, Sara Scott, Jeff Schreck, Danelle Taylor, and Cindy Thompson, with special thanks to volunteer Daphany.

Music played in the background at the pavilion as everyone gathered to enjoy fellowship and a nice dinner of chicken and brisket catered by FIBS after finishing rounds of golf. Beverages were also available. Two BASSET certified bartenders were on site to serve adult beverages.

During the luncheon, tables were set with a more formal style than in years past.

Guests took chances on a fifty-fifty raffle where the winner was chosen from a ball drop. Excitement mounted as 400 balls were dropped from a fire ladder truck.

“We sold so many tickets for the 50/50 raffle that we ran out of golf balls,” coordinator Jillian Porter said.

So Rockton Lions are seeking donations of golf balls to be used in next years event.

Team Hollinger earned honors as the top winning foursome. Awards were also given for the longest putt and longest drive for both men and women.

Special thanks are given to Jen Gunderson at Balsley Printing who printed tickets and mulligans. They also helped with printing on banners, table displays, and the silent auction listings, all of which were wonderfully discounted.

Bryden Motors sponsored a hole in one contest. They offered a credit of $10,000 to be used toward the cost of a new Jeep. The car was on the grounds to draw greater interest in chances to win it.

Montgomery Financial, John and Sheryl Peterson of RE/MAX Valley Realtors, and Meason Law were hole sponsors. Each set up different games, had refreshments such as donuts or cider, or activities such as throwing a shot under a pop up canopy on the golf course. Each winner received a prize.

In a silent auction, bidders could take home one or more of 18 baskets, from 24 sponsors - 16 of which were from local companies.

Plans are underway for the 2024 memorial outing, with even more fun and exciting ideas on the horizon. “We are hoping to increase the number of players to 100 next year,” Porter said.

The 2023 Jack Lovejoy Memorial Outing brought in a total of $13,231 to help expand future scholarships in his name, an increase of $1,000 from last year's event.

Each year high school students from Hononegah and South Beloit are awarded the Jack Lovejoy Memorial Scholarship. These are given through a partnership between the Rockton Lions Club and the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois who reads and reviews applications and helps with the decision-making process.