By Ron P. Coderre

The Congregational Church of Putnam, which renamed its tourney a few years back to the PCC – Steve Bousquet Memorial Golf Tournament, held its annual event recently at The Raceway Golf Club in Thompson.  According to committee member Roger Franklin, there were many winners on and off the course again this year.

The mission of the tournament is to raise funds to provide scholarships for local high school students who are heading off to college.  Thanks to a full field of golfers and the support of sponsors this year’s tourney awarded four scholarships.  Devon Parker and Emma Guillot, two students from Killingly High School who have excelled in the classroom and on the athletic field were two of the recipients.  The other two recipients were Dana Petre and Olivia Arsenault of Tourtellotte Memorial High School.

“These four students were not only outstanding scholars but they all demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities.  We’re very proud to be able to support their academic endeavors as they move on to college,” said Franklin. On the course there was the usual battle for first place, which went to the foursome of Bob Hastings Sr. and Jr., Bob Logan and Mike Daley who carded a 12 under par score of 60 to take a one-stroke victory over the second-place foursome of Duke and Matt Parziale, Neil Bernier and Franklin.  They came home with a card of 61.  The show place went to the group of George Amenabar, Artie “Pina” Collada and Garro and Corey Coffin, who finished with a minus 10 score of 62.  The consolation prize was awarded to the foursome of Tom and Mike LePine and Joe and Jay Matriani with a two over par 74.

Susan Malizia and Guy Lahaie were crowned female and male long drive champions.  Closest-to-the–pin winners were Steve Finnegan (4th hole); Jeff Paglione (#9); Paul Balka (#14); and George Figerle (#17).  Figerle was not only close to the hole, he actually watched his shot trickle into the cup for a hole-in-one, which won him an I-Pad Mini.  All he could say was, “Wow.”

Richard Dalpe won the Par-3 Challenge on the 4th hole, while Tyler Gaudreau was the winner on the 9th and Bill Gardner and Bob Hastings Sr. were the winners on #14 and #17 respectively.

Franklin and his co-chairman Charlie Leach were very pleased with the results of this year’s tournament and are already looking forward to and planning for the 2015 tourney.