CFVH golf tourney honors Fowler's foundation work

The Clark Fork Valley Hospital Foundation has been hosting a golf tournament fundraiser in Plains for 17 years, but this year was extra special for the foundation, the tournament and the people involved.

The golf tournament was renamed the Barry Fowler Memorial Golf Classic this year in honor of the late Barry Fowler, who died in December 2023. Fowler began working at the hospital in 2002 and along with running the CFVH Foundation, he was a past coach of the Plains golf team. Teams, sponsors and donors came out in full force to show support in Fowler's honor, raising nearly $33,000 for the foundation.

A full flight of 18 four-person teams headed to the Plains golf course Sunday for the 18-hole scramble. Tonya Revier with CFVH said they had some new sponsors as well, which helped them exceed the previous tournament record of $17,200.

The winning team of Gary Revier, Jack Revier, Scott Rice and Eddie Fultz combined for a low score of 56. The team won in a chip-off against Rudy Yoder's team, with Fultz and Yoder playing the final 19th hole for the win.

CFVH CEO and foundation Executive Director Dr. Greg Hanson welcomed the golfers, as well as Fowler's family, on Sunday morning, acknowledging Fowler's work and contributions to the foundation. "It's heartwarming to be able to keep this up," Hanson said, adding that they even had golfers playing who were from the east coast. "Thank you for showing up to support Barry and all the work he did."

Hanson said the golf tournament was special for three reasons, including the showing of support for the work that Fowler did, that the golf course "is in fantastic shape, and folks are finally coming out since COVID."

Hanson said the foundation focuses on improvements around patient care. In 2023, the foundation helped purchase a new 3D mammography machine. This year, Hanson said the focus will be on smaller equipment and efforts.

"Barry was a fantastic ambassador for the hospital and he was there to listen. He worked hard to raise funds and create the foundation," Hanson said of Fowler. At the tournament on Sunday, more than a dozen volunteers helped register golfers, manage raffles and silent auction items, serve lunch and make the tournament a success.

Harold Savik is president of the Plains Golf Association, and was excited to have the foundation back at the course for the tournament. Savik said the Plains course has had four tournaments this year. "People are saying the course is the best it's been in years," he noted. This year, the course has improved tee boxes, and they added a storage shed, new golf carts and a new door on the maintenance shed. Savik said their next goal is to improve the sprinkler system and do additional maintenance to the fairways by removing tree roots.