Anyone who knows First Tee of Maine executive director Ron Bibeau is well aware of the fact that Bibeau makes things happen.

One of those things he is making happen in 2015 will take place at Fox Ridge on Aug. 27. It is an inaugural golf event which will be called, “The Fox Ridge Classic,” with proceeds going to The First Tee of Maine. There will be a 9 a.m. tee time for a four-man scramble with an entry fee of $500 for each team. A lunch will follow and there will be giveaways and prizes galore. Information is available at First Tee (809-9030) and Fox Ridge (777-4653).

Clearly the purpose of this event is to raise money for First Tee, but another reason to have it falls under the category of “awareness,”particularly in the Lewiston-Auburn area.

“There still are people who don’t know what First Tee is about,” Bibeau said of the program, which is exposing thousands of Maine youngsters to the advantages of golf. “This is not just a golf program. We teach life skills, and we are changing kids’ lives.”

To some observers of First Tee, there is a misconception that golf and First Tee are programmed for children from affluent families only.

“We have to have those kids, because we are trying to grow the game,” Bibeau said, pointing out that First Tee also deals with ethnicity.

Bibeau said that minorities in Maine make up about two percent of the state’s population, and that First Tee’s ratio is three times that, at about six percent. Plus, the outreach programs deal with an up to 15 percent base of minority students.

First Tee operates an active program at Fox Ridge where head pro Bob Darling continues to be a huge supporter. One of the players in that program is Stephanie Rodrigue of Lewiston, whose mother mother Terry is in the IT department of St. Mary’s Hospital, also working in development. The ever persuasive Bibeau has enlisted Terry Rodrigue to run the tournament.

“First Tee has been a great asset to Stephanie,” her mother said. “First Tee experience is something that is going to last a lifetime. And, I enjoy putting together events. “

Clearly, Terry Rodrigue gets it about First Tee, meaning she will run a good tournament. That will make her one of many allies of Bibeau and First Tee.

And, because of its population diversity, Bibeau has made the Lewiston-Auburn area is one of his prime targets. So, if he is accused of having lofty First Tee goals, he most certainly will plead guilty. That is the way Bibeau has operated since he became Maine’s First Tee executive director in 2012.

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No tri-county area golfers qualified for the U.S. Amateur July 14 at The Ledges. The two qualifying spots went to Canadians Joe Savoie (140) and Eric Banks (142). Earning alternate status were Sam Grindle of Deer Isle (144) and Zack Zaback of Farmington, Conn. (145).

That event was coordinated by the New England Golf Association with support by the Maine State Golf Association.

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At the Maine State Golf Association’s annual B & C Championship July 14 and 15 held at Dutch Elm, three area players had top 10 finishes.

In the ‘B’ Division, Gary Chapman of Fox Ridge (82-79 — 161) was seventh in the gross competition and tied for 12th in the net. David Stonebraker of Norway (88-76 — 166) was tied for 10th in gross and tied for ninth in net. In ‘C’ play Charlie Swett of Apple Valley (94-83 — 177) was tied for 10th in gross and tied for third in net.

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A week from today, the Charlie’s Maine Open Pro-Am will be held at Augusta with the Open’s two-day competition being held the next two days, July 27-28. Other MSGA events on this week’s calendar are: A Senior Tour event tomorrow at Point Sebago, and the Weekend Tournament July 24-25 at Gorham.

In addition, the New England Amateur will be July 21-23 at Baker Hill in Newbury, N.H. Baker Hill is a gem of a course, designed by the renowned “Open Doctor,” architect Rees Jones.

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