You certainly couldn’t have asked for a better day for a golf tournament.

Over 100 UMaine-Farmington alumni and friends of Beaver athletics gathered on a chamber-of-commerce kind of day for the 11th Annual BASSA Golf Tournament to benefit UMaine-Farmington athletics, rekindling old friendships and meeting new alumni and friends of athletics.

The event, held on June 5 at the Fox Ridge Golf Club in Auburn, raised approximately $7,000 for UMF athletics – money that will go toward helping enhance the student-athlete experience for nearly 200 student-athletes.

“The BASSA Golf Tournament has become a big event on our annual athletics calendar, not only for the impact it has upon our overall fundraising efforts, but for the opportunity it provides us to connect with many of our alumni and others who have an affinity for UMaine-Farmington athletics,” said Jamie Beaudoin, interim director of athletics.

“Making that direct connection with alums and friends was never more important than in this year’s tournament, after going through a year with no athletic events and few opportunities for individuals to remain connected with our programs,” added Beaudoin.

Proceeds from past BASSA golf tournaments have gone toward improvements at Leib Field and MacPhee Court in Dearborn Gym, supporting the annual Beaver Social, purchasing equipment for the sports medicine staff, sponsoring the Hall of Fame, and helping defray the cost of other operational expenses.

Since its inception, BASSA  (Beaver Alumni Supporting Student Athletes) has helped raise over $30,000 for UMaine-Farmington Athletics.

The tournament was facilitated by a group of 13 hole sponsors and a number of other contributors who made gifts-in-kind, helping to make the tournament an event that is a summer highlight for many of the participants as well.