By On June 16, 2025, the pristine fairways of West Hills Country Club in Middletown, New York, buzzed with excitement as 141 golfers and 31 additional dinner guests came together for the Paul Rickard Memorial Scholarship Golf Outing. This cherished event paid tribute to Paul Rickard, former SUNY Orange professor and coach whose passion for athletics and education touched countless lives.
The outing was a hole-in-one success, grossing an impressive $64,000 to fund athletic and academic scholarships for SUNY Orange student-athletes. These scholarships honor Paul’s enduring commitment to helping young people achieve their full potential both academically and on the field.
Generous sponsors made it all possible. Pioneer Financial led as the Title Sponsor. Silver Sponsors were Arkel Motors, Hutchings Insurance, and Langan Engineering. The Bronze Sponsor was Murphy, Schisano, & Rosado LLP. Cheers went to Bar Sponsor Northwestern Mutual – Park Avenue and Cart Sponsors ServPro and the Bloss Family. Heartfelt appreciation to the Tee Sponsors: Annie Hansen Real Estate, Mountainview Mustang, Bob and Kathy Zifchock, Freedom Hill Farm, Ben Bowman ’05, Cuffee Family, Lit It Up Blue, Francis J. Feely Charitable Fund, Bendlin Family, Patrick O’Connor ’00, Peter Bradley ’09, Anthony Sampson ’03, Andrew Marotta, Elevated Sports (Rob Hueston ’13), Christ’s Church of the Hudson Valley, Mike Cordero – State Farm, Walter and Lynn Rickard, Minisink Valley Middle School, Jake Parks, Christine Samartino, Josh Foster, Mark Broadhead, and Brian Smith.
Keeping energy high on the course were refreshments provided by Back Road Brewery, Jersey Mike’s, Dana Distributors, Dorelus Manigat Entertainment, and Texas Roadhouse.
Competition was fierce in the scramble format, with standout performances:
- First Place Team: Bob Decker ’93, Matt Johnson, Mike Decker, and Cory Quimby
- Second Place Team: Jim Kelly ’94, Jimmy Kelly, Dan Winstead, and John Vogel
- Third Place Team: Fred Williams, Daryl Williams, Dylan Williams, and John Roberts
Individual honors included Ladies Longest Drive to Sherry Morris, Men’s Longest Drive to Dylan Williams, and Closest to the Pin to Ronnan Sheedy.
The day wrapped with a festive cocktail hour, raffle, and banquet where stories of Paul’s influence flowed as freely as the laughter.
A profound thank you to all who participated, sponsored, and volunteered. Your support ensures the Paul Rickard Memorial Scholarship continues to open doors for SUNY Orange’s brightest stars. Looking ahead to 2026—let’s make it even greater!
