'I love to support it': Wendy's Golf Classic celebrity outing goes off without a hitch

ASHLAND — Under a cool breeze and a sun-filled sky, 34 teams teed off during the Wendy’s Golf Classic celebrity outing Friday at the Ashland Golf Club.

Now in its 20th year, the Classic serves as a fundraiser for The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and Team Focus, two organizations that work with children in need. The annual event is run by Zane Gross of Wenco, Warren Jones and Kip Matteson.

Ashlander Chad Honaker has played in the event each summer, saying he wouldn’t miss it.

“It’s a great event, and Kip, Warren and Zane for the longest time have put a great event on,” he said. “It was Team Focus early, then kind of morphed with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, obviously two great organizations, and I love to support it and support people who support Ashland.

“And there’s nothing more important than being a father, and these organizations help those kids who don’t have that blessing, and it’s certainly important.”

The Classic is also known for the celebrities who tour the course with their golf teams. Some new faces were on hand this year, mixing with several who have taken part in the event multiple times.

Former Ohio State University defensive back Vinnie Clark, who also played for four teams in the NFL, made his initial appearance.

“My wife and I have three sons and one daughter, so it’s something near to me because whatever I can do to help the youth and anybody to maintain and stay on the right path, that’s what I’m about,” he said. “It’s a great thing, and I’m just so honored to be here.”

Zach Logan, a former cornerback at Purdue University, was also playing for the first time.

“Just anything you can do to give back and help pave the way for the younger generation,” he said. “A lot of people come from a lot of challenging backgrounds, and if I’m able to help and educate them and help someone change the trajectory of life, providing resources has always been a passion of mine.”

Another first-timer at the Classic was former NFL referee Mark Steinkerchner, who retired this past season after a 28-year career.

“To actually be around somewhere they don’t want to boo me and yell at me, it’s much better,” joked Steinkerchner, who also worked in two Super Bowls during his career. “I belong to the Kiwanis also in the Akron area, and so I’ve worked with a lot of kids organizations. It is nice to be out like this and to be able to raise money for two kids organizations. “

Cleveland broadcasting legend Bruce Drennan returned to Ashland this year for the Classic.

“Warren Jones is a longtime friend of mine,” he said. “We go back decades when I was still in the Chicago area, and he has the famous Ashland traveling team, and I was working in Aurora, right outside of Chicago, which is like what Akron is to Cleveland, a city unto itself. And they had a men’s traveling team, and Warren’s team from Ashland came in and played us, and that’s when we first met, and that was in the mid-70s, believe it or not. And that’s how I became affiliated with this outing.

“When Warren asked me to come and support these causes, anything Warren wants I’m there. Mike Zucker is another friend of mine from Marion, Ohio who is also involved with this, and I didn’t even know it, so that even added to what I consider my responsibility to support this.”

Frank Stams, a former Cleveland Brown and the president of the NFL Alumni of Cleveland, and Andy Katzenmoyer, a former Ohio State Buckeye and the president of NFL Alumni of Central Ohio chapter, played integral roles in bringing in many of the celebrities for the golf outing, according to Gross.

“We can’t think of a better partner for the NFL Alumni to have than co-charities, and Zane is just outstanding,” Stams said. “What he does for the community and both of our missions align, and we’re glad to be a part of it to bring our alumni to this event and support all of the great work Zane and everybody does.

“I was just at a football camp in the Cleveland area, and it was for kids and everything was at no cost to the community. If we don’t invest in our children today, I’m scared to think what the world is going to be like 20 or 30 years from now. We’ve got to make an impact now on the kids so they become productive citizens in the future.”

Wendy’s took over the major sponsorship of the Classic six years ago. Since its inception in 2003, when it was called the Ashland, Ohio Charity Auction and Golf Tournament and was run by Ashland native and Cleveland Guardians broadcaster Matt Underwood, it has become a summer staple.

And those who take part in it say it’s all because of their willingness to help kids.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Wendy's Golf Classic participants have plenty of fun