Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Football Hosts Annual Bud Ranck-Tom Gadd Memorial Kickoff Classic
7/22/2026 1:23:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. --- The Bison community came together at the Bucknell Golf Course this past Saturday to support the Bucknell football program for the annual Bud Ranck-Tom Gadd Memorial Kickoff Classic. Despite the rain, participants enjoyed an exciting day of golf and dinner. They also had the opportunity to converse with head coach Jeff Behrman, his staff and more than three dozen Bison football players.
"Thank you to all our alumni, parents and sponsors who supported us for a fantastic day at the Ranck-Gadd Memorial Classic," said Behrman. "It was a great day to bring decades of former Bison together and celebrate the history of the program."
The golf tournament featured a shotgun scramble with Open Discourse Coalition as the title sponsor. The annual golf outing serves as the program's largest and most important offseason gathering where former Bison athletes come together to take part in a day-long event. The tournament was followed by a post-round meal sponsored by the Andersen family.
Football's annual golf tournament was founded in 1995 by the late Bucknell head football coach Tom Gadd. In the tournament's second year, Gadd named the event after good friend Bud Ranck, who had passed away earlier that year. To memorialize Gadd after his passing in March 2003, the Ranck family announced at the dinner that the tournament would bear the names of both Bud Ranck and Tom Gadd.
This year's tournament was another outstanding gathering of both former and current teammates, supporters, and friends of the Bison football family.
Below is a list of the Ranck-Gadd Memorial Kickoff Classic winners:
Winners 1st Flight:
Todd Rinaldo '09, Phil Azarik '09, Stephen Edwards '09, Andrew Lair '12
Winners 2nd Flight:
JJ Gomez '29, Zach Corna '29, Patrick Leonard '29, Jack Sullivan '29
Winners Masters Flight:
Will McFarland '86, David Henry '86, P'17, Brian Callahan '86, John Heuer '87
Closest to the Pin Hole #4:
Keith Treon (5'9")
Closest to the Pin Hole #10:
Phil Azarik '09 (13')
Closest to the Pin Hole #16:
Aaron Pavlechko (5'6")
Longest Drive Hole #15:
Jim Lachman '06
Longest Drive Seniors Hole #15:
Harry Buell '88
The Bucknell Football Program would like to thank the following for helping to sponsor this year's event:
Title Sponsor: Open Discourse Coalition                               Â
Exclusive Tournament Signage Sponsor: Â Dr. Michael Axe '75Â Â
Dinner Sponsor: The Andersen Family
Lunch Sponsor: The Gomez Family                                     Â
Golf Cart Sponsors: Bucknell University President John Bravman and Chartwells Tournament Contributors: Pepi Gomez P'29, Deb Hommel, Luke Rohrbaugh '71 P'12, Greg Schiano '88 P'20/'25, Josselyn Timko '99, Weis Markets & Jen Yuengling '93, P'25 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Hole & Foursome Sponsors: The Cadden Family, Matthew Caldwell, The Dietrich Family, The Jackson Family, Joe Muscatello P'29,Tim Pavlechko '91, The Pechin Family, Todd Rinaldo '09 & SilverTip Inc. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Foursome Sponsor: Jim Lachman '06 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Hole Sponsors: Allendale Bar & Grill, Barnes & Noble Bucknell Bookstore, Bull Run Tap House, Brian Callahan '86, Coldwell Banker Penn One Real Est., Country Inn & Suites, Andy Dzurinko '65, Foundations Financial Partners (Chris Hackley '89 & Bret Berg '17), Pete Hall '78, David Henry '86, P'17, Jim '78 & Missy Hislop '79 P'11, '16, Holiday Inn Express, Josten's, Matty's Sporthouse Grill, Darryl Novak '63, Jeff & Deb Ranck, Steve Renock '74, Tony Rinaldo '60, Gary Scott '86, Graham Showalter, Susquehanna Trailways LLC., Brad Tufts, Ken Twiford '62, P'86, H.J. Willcox '88, Kyle Yearick '84 & 1996 Championship Team Captains (George Howanitz '97, Rich Lemon '97 & Brandon Little '97)
