Golf tournament to benefit 4 families who lost loved ones in Rustic Ridge house explosion

An upcoming golf tournament benefiting the four families who lost loved ones in the Rustic Ridge house explosion in Plum last year is personal for Nick Davis, one of its organizers.

Davis, 39, of Monroeville has known Jen Clontz since they were in kindergarten in the Gateway School District. He met her future husband, Casey Clontz, in 1998 when they were in middle school and Jen and Casey met.

Casey Clontz and his son, Keegan, 12, were among the six people killed in the Aug. 12 explosion of the home of Paul and Heather Oravitz on Rustic Ridge Drive.

“Everybody has a best friend, but there’s somebody a step above that,” said Davis, who was the best man at Jen and Casey’s wedding in 2009. “Casey was like my brother, maybe not blood but he was closer than some of my blood family.”

Davis and Dani DiVittorio, Jen’s cousin, are organizing the first Rustic Ridge Charity Golf Tournament, which will be held July 12 at Butler’s Golf Course on Rock Run Road in Elizabeth.

They are doing it under Steel Shining, a nonprofit DiVittorio created. She said it’s meant to help individuals and families through tragedies or crises.

In addition to Casey and Keegan Clontz and Paul and Heather Oravitz, killed in the explosion were Michael Thomas and Kevin Sebunia.

Proceeds from the tournament will be split evenly among the Clontz, Oravitz, Thomas and Sebunia families.

The tournament is being held a month, to the day, ahead of the first anniversary of the tragedy.

“We’re hoping this is a source of comfort and light and healing, a way to support the families and show them love with that upcoming anniversary,” DiVittorio said.

A golfer himself, Davis said he pushed golf on Casey, an avid hunter and sports fan, and it was rubbing off on Keegan, who had gotten his own clubs. They were planning on golfing at the Clontz’s cottage in Ashtabula, Ohio.

“I know Casey and the Clontz family would do this if the roles were reversed,” Davis said. “It was kind of a no-brainer for me to step up and do whatever I got to do to bring some light to this subject.”

The deadline for golfers and sponsors is June 30. While golfers are asked to sign up by that date, registration will be kept open until the day of the tournament.

The day will start with registration, warm-up and breakfast from 8 to 8:45 a.m. and a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Two courses will be in play from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with hot dogs and drinks provided at the turn. A happy hour, dinner and awards will be from 2 to 4 p.m.

The cost is $600 per foursome. Available sponsorships range from $250 to $25,000.

Registrations and sponsorships are being taken online at event.gives/rrgolftournament.

In addition to their son Keegan, Jen and Casey Clontz have a daughter, Addie. Jen and Addie are getting by as best they can, having lost a husband and a brother, Davis said.

“They’re getting through this first year with the love and support of the community,” DiVittorio said.

As the community approaches the first anniversary, DiVittorio said they want the day of the tournament to be one of healing and remembrance. They plan to hold the tournament every year.

“We’re hoping it will be a day of joy and a day of celebrating life,” Davis said.