Sugar Cookie Open benefits local veterans, first responders

QUINCY (WGEM) - QUINCY (WGEM) -- The Sugar Cookie Open almost sounds, well, soft and gooey.

But make no mistake, this local fundraising golf tournament is anything but soft and gooey.

After all, an event founded by a former Navy SEAL in which local veterans, first responders and emergency service workers benefit as well as participate is going to be hard, rugged and tough... and a lot of fun!

The sixth annual Sugar Cookie Open gets underway with registration at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 2 at Spring Lake Country Club. The event, which has raised more than $125,000 since 2021, benefits veterans, first responders and several other organizations in the Quincy area.

Title sponsors for the event are WGEM, HOMEBANK, Blessing Health System and DoubleTree by Hilton Quincy. Those interested in participating can go to www.sugarcookieopen.com/sco-playgolf to sign up or for more information about the event.

The idea for the Sugar Cookie Open came about when former Navy SEAL Jared Ogden wanted to share some of his military history with the Quincy community.

“I’m a former Navy SEAL and in training we would make sugar cookies, but probably not the kind your thinking of,” Ogden said. ”Instead, we would hit the surf, get completely wet and then rolling around in the soft, white sand…. And you become the sugar cookie. In training this would precede any number of activities including 6 mile-plus long pass (or) fail runs and misery ensued every time. This is a fun way to share that part of my past on the golf course with Quincy… and on a completely voluntary basis.”

And guess what? After playing 18 holes, each participant receives a chance to create their own sugar cookie — with sand and water happily provided.

The 19th hole is an extra hole where an individual can become a “sugar cookie.” The golfer will jump into the lake and roll around on the sand for the final shot, during which they can be heckled by other golfers.

“We have four main beneficiaries,” event co-founder Brian Fox explained. “They are the Adams County Sheriff, Quincy Police Department, Quincy Fire Department and Illinois Veterans Home.”

Hurley III, a former PGA golfer, has participated in the first five Sugar Cookie Opens and is a huge supporter of the event.

“Jared’s a classmate of mine from the Naval Academy,” Hurley III said. “We both graduated in 2004 from Annapolis and about five years ago he called me up and said, ‘Hey I’m having this idea for a golf tournament and here’s what I’m thinking and would you come and support it?’ and I said, ‘Yeah let’s do it, sounds awesome, sound like a great idea, sounds like a great cause and it (would) be fun to be a part of.’

“So this will be my sixth year at the Sugar Cookie Open, and I look forward to many, many more. It’s a fun time to be in Quincy and a great group of people,” he added.

Prior to Friday’s golf tournament, an event will be held at the Illinois Veterans Home on Thursday, Oct. 1, when money raised from last year’s tournament will be distributed to local entities.

On hand for the distribution ceremony will be visiting Navy SEALs, former PGA golfer Billy Hurley III, sponsors, committee members and a few other special guests.

Chief among the special guests will be Trey Lindsey, who served more than 20 years in the U.S. Navy, 18 as a Navy SEAL with 13 of those years in the Naval Special Warfare Development Group also known as SEAL Team 6.

Throughout his time in Team 6, Lindsey held a variety of senior enlisted leadership positions. He served as a Naval Security Forces police officer with a specialty in physical security and anti-terrorism. A combat veteran, Lindsey participated in more than a dozen operational deployments oversees during Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism throughout his career.

Lindsey was the recipient of more than 20 medals or commendations including three Bronze Stars with Valor (one for a hostage rescue of an American citizen, directed by the President of the United States).

After retiring from the military in October 2022, Lindsey started his own company in the tactical training, security and defense consulting industry. He is the founder and CEO of Gallowglass Guardian Group, LLC and also the co-founder and CEO of TSG Blades, a tactical knife design company which is getting ready for its official launch.