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ProLab Golfers Luck Out
by Elizabeth Cunningham

Las Croabas, Puerto Rico— Congratulations go out to the ProLab Classic as it had its 15th incarnation this year as the industry's most successful golf tournament. The chosen venue for this anniversary year was the celebrated golf course designed by architect Arthur Hill for the Wyndham El Conquistador Resort & Country club in Puerto Rico.

Nestled between the El Yunque rain forest and the Atlantic Ocean, this picturesque and challenging course has elevation changes of more than 200 feet. The rolling hills and bunkers are as much of a hinderance to the ProLab golfers the birds, iguanas and chickens that roamed the course. During the course of the Classic, high winds and intermittent torrential tropical rains added an extra dimension of challenge as the rainy season came a week earlier than usual.

With the weather acting up, even the best golfers had a tough time with the condition of the course. Following the tournament's first day, rain-filled traps proved to be quite the obstacle for golfers of all handicaps.

"It was one of the tougher ones we have played," said tournament co chairman Dave Sheble.

Jack Helmen seconded that assessment, "It's even tough to get uphill with a cart."

Dominic Insana of Fuji summed up the day's water-logged action best, "Day two was miserable, but we had a lot of fun."

More and more industry members have been enjoying the ProLab Classic as the years has gone on.

Sheble recalls that the tournament was originally a one day, 18 team event. This time around that number was doubled, encompassing 349 players over the past 15 years. Only eight people that took to the Puerto Rican course were there to tee off in each of the 15 ProLab Classics: Burnie Batchelor, Ilgvars Broks, Rodd Jones, Kim Freeman, Roy Pung, Pat Miller and, of course the organizers of the outing, Anderson and Sheble.

Terry Corman of Indianapolis, Indiana's Firehouse Image Center said, "It's not about winning or losing, but friendship, camaraderie and fun."

Along with all of those emotional niceties, there were some pretty nifty prizes that were awarded, compliments of this year's sponsors. Those generous souls were Robert C. Davis, Bremson Inc.; Ralph R. Gaetano, Think Inc.; John Brenan, Gretag Sienna Imaging Division; Aaron (Jeff) McLeod, Eastman Kodak Company; Dan S. Zacharias, Fuji Photo Film USA. Inc.; Jerry Ecklund Mackay Photopak; Rodd Jones, Kreonite, Inc.; and John Leonti, Agfa Corp. Professional Imaging.

So you have fun, friends and great prizes but what is it that every golfer really wants? It's the coveted coveted green jacket that the players lust after. Since the tournaments inception, there have been 56 single green jackets awarded, and just four doubles. This 15th anniversary saw two more names added to that doubles list - Walter Troup of Buckeye Color Lab and Sheble. It also saw Robert C. Davis, the former owner of Bremson, Inc. (now a Kodak company) recieve a special honorary green jacket, and rightfully so. When the ProLab Classic was born, its chairman, Larry A. Anderson, was working for Bremson. Without Davis' support, this superb annual golf event would not have materialized. The other attendees honored Davis with a standing ovation at the award's dinner. The 2001 trophy and prize winners were also recognized at the dinner.

And what could be more coveted than a ProLab Classic green jacket? Why an invitation to next year's tournament at the legendary La Costa golf course in San Diego's North County, Carlsbad, CA. Taking place on Jan. 6-8, the 16th ProLab Classic will allow attendees to play the same course that the PGA's Tournament of Champions has taken place on for the last 30 years. Following the golf, it will be just a short car trip downtown to the Hyatt Hotel and the 34th APCI convention.

For a complete list of winners, see our print issue ...