By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC column is dedicated to Putnam area businessman Dick Loomis.  An involved community servant, Loomis was once a spirited football player for the Putnam Clippers in the days when they had their own gridiron team.  Today he can be found playing golf in just about every charitable golf tourney in the area.

A large group of northeastern Connecticut golfers invaded Norwich over the weekend of July 17, 18, and 19 for the 89th edition of the Norwich Invitational Golf Tournament.  Played at the Norwich Golf Club the event is considered Eastern Connecticut’s version of The Open.  The prestigious Tournament attracts golfers from throughout Connecticut and beyond.

A half dozen local golfers finished in the Top 20 entries, shooting even par or better.  Greg Pike, the former Woodstock Academy and current Husson University golfer, had the best qualifying score, firing a two under par 69.  Norwich’s Chris DeLucia was the top qualifier with a score of 65.  Behind Pike with a score of 70 was Killingly golf coach Kevin Marcoux.  Four golfers, AJ Siekierski, Drew Aitken, Fletcher Babcock and Brian Bardier, posted a score of 71.  Marcoux, Pike and Aitken made the Championship Flight cut.

Siekierski, John Aitken, Aaron Vargas, Bardier and Babcock competed in the First Flight.  Mike Danielson and Joey Derrico qualified in the Second Flight, while Mike Papuga was in the Third Flight.  Jeff Clang Jr., Norm Seney and Al Remekie qualified in the Fourth flight and Andrew Bardier and Ryan Willis played in the Sixth Flight.

When all was said and done on Sunday, the only area golfer left standing was Aaron Vargas who captured the First Flight title.  He edged Hunter Byram in a match that went 21 holes before the verdict was rendered.  In the semifinals, Vargas topped Rob Neaton 7 and 6.  The tourney champion was Norwich native Dave Jones who defeated his best friend and reigning champion Dan Hendrickson 2-up.  Hendrickson, formerly of Norwich, traveled up from his home in North Carolina for the tournament.

Is The NBA in the Future?

Ousmane Drame came to Marianapolis Prep about six years ago as a big, raw basketball player from the Boston area.   A native of Guinea, the 6-foot, 9-inch inside player worked hard under coaches Dave and Andrew Vitale to develop his skills and his game.  His hard work at Marianapolis paid off when he was offered a scholarship by coach Tom Moore of Quinnipiac University, where he joined his former teammate Ike Azotam, who had arrived the year prior. 

Under the tutelage and careful nurturing of coach Moore, Drame developed into one of college’s best big men.  His numbers and performance improved every year as he saw significant playing time for the Bobcats from his freshman season on.  As a senior Drame averaged 14.9 points per game, 11.2 rebounds per contest and 2.9 blocked shots, all career highs.  In 2014 his 20 double-doubles tied him for fourth in the nation in that category.

His impressive career at Quinnipiac has landed him in the National Basketball Association Washington Wizards minicamp recently.  He’s also on the Wizards roster for the NBA Summer League, which started on July 18 in Las Vegas.  This gives Drame an outside shot at becoming Quinnipiac’s first player to sign with an NBA team.

“I’m just excited for the opportunity.  I’m looking forward to trying to take the next step,” Drame told the Hartford Courant.

Drame spent the first few weeks following his graduation coordinating drills at Coach Moore’s summer basketball camp on the Quinnipiac Campus in Hamden.

Coach Moore appears to like the talent he sees at northeastern Connecticut prep schools.  In addition to Drame and Azotam, he plucked Putnam Science Academy’s big man Chaise Daniels off the Putnam campus.  This spring he lured two more PSA players, the Robinson twins, Aaron and Andrew to Quinnipiac where they’ll begin their freshman year in September.

 Welcome Mat Out 

for Recent Visitor

Over the weekend of July 17, 18 and 19 former Killingly basketball standout Robert Chartier and his wife Gretchen returned to northeastern Connecticut for a family reunion.  Chartier, who scaled in at 6-foot, 4-inches during his prime, was one of the area’s premier basketball players.  In fact he played two seasons in Worcester for the Assumption College Greyhounds.

Chartier, who enjoyed a long career in education administration, is living in Arizona in the greater Scottsdale area.  The Chartier family has produced some of the area’s finest male athletes.  David Chartier preceded Robert at Assumption where he played basketball for four seasons.  Norm Chartier was a standout receiver in football for UConn.  Louis Chartier was one of the best big men to play basketball at Eastern Connecticut State University.

The Chartier family patriarch, Dr. Gerard Chartier, who enjoyed a long and illustrious medical career at Day Kimball Hospital, was quite an athlete in his day.  He’s a member of the Assumption College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Great Day on the Links

It’s always fun to visit a golf course that you’ve never played before.  Except for not knowing the nuances of the course, getting away for a day of golf from familiar surroundings is rejuvenating.  That’s why the foursome of Moe and Marc Coderre, Rick Carnahan and yours truly experienced a great 18-holes of golf when we played Chemawa Golf Club in N. Attleboro, Mass.

Although not a long course by today’s standards, it measures 5285 yards from the back tees, it still provides challenges.  There’s a brooks that winds its way throughout the course, which provides water at the front of two of the par-3 holes.  The fairways are ample although they are often in juxtaposition to other fairways.  The greens and tee boxes are impeccably manicured.  Additionally the fencing and shrubbery are perfectly maintained and add a special beauty to the surroundings.

The course management team is polite and welcoming from the moment you arrive.  From the starter to the pro shop personnel and restaurant wait staff, the red carpet is laid out from arrival to departure.

Our round was arranged by local resident, Chemawa Grounds Superintendent Jeff Lefebvre, who is proud of the look of the entire facility and his involvement in making it an appealing golf venue.  Located at 350 Cushman Road, North Attleboro, MA, this public course is a comfortable and easy one hour drive from Putnam.  Tee times can be arranged by calling 508 399-7330.  It’s definitely worth the trip to Chemawa Golf Club, a public course with a private feel.

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “I’d give up golf if I didn’t have so many sweaters.”  Bob Hope

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