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Winners

Ronald P. Coderre presents  first place to Brandon Bonnette, Andrew Coderre, Mike Jezierski and Jake Roy. They won with a 16 under par score. Photo courtesy of Aileen Witkowski.

 

 

Putnam Rotary

golf tourney

huge success

Special to the Putnam Town Crier

A throng of 156 golfers turned out on May 30 at Connecticut National Golf Club for the annual Putnam Rotary Club Ronald P. Coderre Golf Tournament.  The event was named in honor of Coderre, a 32-year Rotarian who for rejuvenated the tournament.

The event, which is the club’s biggest fund-raiser, is an annual event to support the charitable efforts of the Putnam Rotary Club.  Proceeds from the tourney are part of the more than $35,000 the Rotary provides in support of its 12 scholarships and the many non-profit entities it contributes to every year.

Under ideal weather conditions, 39 foursomes teed the ball up but in the end there was only one winning team.  The foursome of Andrew Coderre, Mike Jezierski, Jake Roy and Brandon Bonnette outpaced the large field firing a 16 under par 55 to capture the 2014 title.  The team was sponsored by Putnam Rotarian Aileen Witkowski.

“Our group is very excited that my grandmother invited us to play.  We all love golf and want to keep our game sharp for competition in the coming weeks.  This is a well organized event,” said Andrew Coderre, grandson of Mrs. Witkowski.

According to co-chairmen Marc Archambault and Shawn McNerney, the tournament proceeds are expected to exceed $30,000.

“The organizing committee put in much work in getting ready for this day.  We’ve been working since January to prepare and it’s great to see the results we achieved today.  Our thanks go out to all who sponsored, volunteered or played,” said Archambault.

The tournament sponsors were Putnam Bank and Wheelabrator-Putnam.  Tent sponsors were Advantage Home Medical Equipment of Putnam and Charter Oak Federal Credit Union.  Putnam Ford was the Tournament Auto Sponsor for the hole-in-one contest.

“Our sponsors can’t be thanked enough.  Thanks to their generosity we are able to raise substantial dollars to assist worthwhile non-profits in our area.  I’m extremely appreciative of the work that Marc Archambault and Shawn McNerney put in along with their committee.  They exemplify the true spirit of Rotary,” said Club President Brad Favreau. 

Prior to the start of the tournament Archambault presented Rotary Club member and former golf committee chairman Douglas Porter with the prestigious Ace-in-the-Hole Award.  The presentation is made annually to an individual or organization the exemplifies the motto of Rotary, “Service Above Self.”  Porter, a former Club president and Paul Harris Award winner, is instrumental each year in securing sponsors and volunteers for the tournament.