Sutcliffe benefit tournament a success

It would have been so easy for Rick Sutcliffe and Bryan Caton to punt this year’s Rockman Golf Tournament, which benefits the Sunshine Center in Independence.
Sutcliffe, the honorary co-chair of the tournament, is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment for colon cancer and Caton, the tournament chairman, is spending time with his mother at the hospital, where she is recovering from recent brain surgery.
“How easy would it have been to just say no this year?” Sutcliffe asked Wednesday afternoon, as a light rain began to fall at WinterStone Golf Course in Independence.
“But that was never an option. I planned my radiation and chemo treatments so I would be able to attend this tournament. It was what got me through those treatments – and I know big Bryan wouldn’t let anything keep him away from the tournament.”
Although no money figures were announced at the conclusion of the tournament, Caton quipped, “I know we’re going to make at least $10,000 because I already have a bid for that amount on the (one-of-a-kind solid granite) guitar we’re going to auction at Harrah’s tonight at Johnny Lee’s concert.”
The event raised a lot more than $10,000, said Sunshine Center executive director Beth Grubb.
“The golf tournament was a sell-out, and it looks like it might already be sold out next year according to all the golfers who said they’d be back in 2009,” she said. “And we sold so many raffle tickets for the auction items. I think it’s going to be much bigger than last year, which really doesn’t surprise me.
“The Sunshine Center has been a part of Independence the past 34 years, and it’s a little like that sixth degree of separation. There are very few people who haven’t been impacted – or know someone who has been impacted – by the center.”
While Sutcliffe, Caton and Lee, the legendary singer/songwriter who penned the tune “Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places” back in 1980, were the marquee names, the man everyone wanted to talk about was Sugar Creek native Rick Taylor.
“We don’t have this tournament without Rick,” Sutcliffe said, referring to his lifelong best friend and fellow Van Horn High School graduate. “We had Outback Steak House out here, and I don’t know how they got involved. But Rick (Taylor) does.
“I don’t know where we got all the auction items – but Rick Taylor does. Guys like Rick and Mike Beal, the CFO of Ball Foods, are the unsung heroes. It embarrasses me to get any credit. All I did was loan my name and haul my big rear end out of bed to get here.
“Now, when I’m healthy next year, I’ll play a lot bigger role in the tournament. But this year, you can thank guys like Rick for getting it all done.”
Taylor graciously backed away from the praise.
“We’re all blessed to be a part of this,” Taylor said. “I was up this morning at 4 a.m. watching The Weather Channel and I never dreamed we’d get this tournament in. But we did. I think Bubby Larry (Stewart, better known as Secret Santa) was up there watching over us.
“He was a big supporter of the Sunshine Center, and he got a lot of us involved. I’ve had so many people come up to me today to say thank you, that I got a little embarrassed. A lot of people made sure this event happened with all that Bryan and Sut had to deal with. I was just one of them.”
The team anchored by former Blue Springs High School and Kansas City Royals standout Brian McRae won the scramble tournament with a score of 14-under par.