Golfers from far and wide make Wendy's Golf Classic a success in 2023

ASHLAND — The hint of a few rain showers didn’t dampen the spirits of those taking part in the 2023 Wendy’s Golf Classic at the Ashland Golf Club on Friday.

And there are many celebrities who made sure they make the trek to Ashland, not only from across Ohio but from across the U.S.

When asked what brought former Ashland University men’s basketball coach Rob Spivery back, he said it was simple.

“Ashland does, Ashland and Warren Jones, and the cause of the event, to help the young boys without fathers,” said Spivery. “I grew up without a father in the house, so I know what that’s like. And it’s good to come back, particularly to see good friends and to visit Ashland once again.”

The Classic supports the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption as well as Team Focus.

“It just warms your heart to have people, community, friends, business associates who support the causes for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and for coach Mike Gottfried’s Team Focus, two great organizations who do wonderful things for children,” said Zane Gross of Wenco, one of the directors of the event, along with Warren Jones and Kip Matteson. “Many of the celebrities here come back year after year, and that’s special there. The relationships that are built there with them and their commitment to the same causes we have to come in unity to help do stuff for children.”

Former Ohio State running back Chris "Beanie" Wells was on hand for the tournament.

“I’m primarily taking care of my kids, running them around, being a ‘daddy daycare,’ in Westerville,” Wells said. “Anytime I get an opportunity to give back and lend my name and lend my credentials, I’m all for it, especially when it’s for a great cause.

“I’m a big advocate for helping kids and paying it forward, that’s something coach Jim Tressel always taught us at Ohio State was to pay it forward,” he added. “People never care how much you know as to know how much you care. Putting my efforts here and giving back I’m all for it anytime I get a chance to.”

The same holds true for Nick Dials, also a former Buckeye.

“I’m married with children, raising a family,” Dials said. “My daughter will be a freshman at Lake Erie College playing volleyball, and my son is a junior down in Olentangy, so I’m looking forward to being an empty nester.

“And this event is all for a good cause. I played in this two years ago and once I heard about Team Focus and met Zane and saw all the good things they were doing with Warren, this is something I want to come and support every year,” Dials added. “It’s something where I want to pay it forward. It’s my pleasure to come here and hang out with great people.”

Rob Stoops, the co-owner of the Lyn-Way Restaurant, was teeing it up for the third straight year.

“The camaraderie of all of the people, the friendships, and what Zane, Kip and Warren do for this tournament, for the foundation — who doesn’t want to give to a great foundation? — and they just do a wonderful job,” Stoops noted. “And it means a lot to anybody with a family, especially families in need, who doesn’t want to give to that? It’s a great tournament, everybody loves it and the money goes towards a great cause.”

Trey Smith, who starred at Ashland High School in basketball before graduating from the University of Findlay, just finished up his second season as a graduate assistant at the University of Arkansas.

“I was there for the past two years, and I’m just trying to figure out what my next move is in coaching, a lot of things are going fast right now,” Smith said. “I have a few opportunities, and I’m just waiting to see what’s best for me.

“I know my dad (John Smith) had talked about this tournament for a long time and I never played in it, and Warren Jones is a relative of mine and he’s a big guy in this event,” he added.”It’s my first time playing in it so I’m excited to get to play and meet a lot of people. And one of the reasons I got into coaching was to have an impact on young kids, so I think anything where you can have a positive impact on the youth is something that’s really good and I know this community in Ashland really values that.”

Spivery said following the golf outing, he planned to revisit the Ashland University campus to see the many upgrades made there.

“I’m going to go by, take a walk through and see what all of the upgrades are about,” he noted. “It’s exciting, and since 1970 I’d imagine there’s been a lot of improvements going on. But it’s always good to come back because Ashland is a very special place for me.”

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Wendy's Golf Classic a success at Ashland Golf Club