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Honored

The Rotary Club awarded the Ace in the Hole award to the Northeast Connecticut Dental Associates, represented by Dr. Jack Mooney, left, and Dr. Jeff Simpson, center. Rotarian Peter Benoit is at right. Courtesy photos. 

 

Bank Team

Members of Putnam Bank at the tournament. Left, Chuck Bentley, Paul Kelly, center, and at right, Bob Halloran (also a Putnam Rotary Club member). 

 

 

 

Special to the Putnam Town Crier

Despite overcast conditions and intermittent showers, the spirits of the 144 golfers in the Putnam Rotary Club “Ronald P. Coderre” Golf Tournament were not dampened, as the tourney enjoyed yet another successful year, exceeding previous records.  According to tournament chairman, Sean McNerney and bookkeepers Elizabeth Buzalski and Peter Benoit, the proceeds should exceed $38,000.

“We’re very excited about the way the entire tournament played out.  From registration to the final award, all the golfers were provided a first class experience.  This is the Club’s biggest fund-raiser and were pleased with the support we receive from the community,” said Chairman McNerney.

On the links the competition for the top spot was hotter than a firecracker on the Fourth of July.  Right to the wire four foursomes battled for the honor of being crowned 2016 RPC champion.  The foursome of Deb, Jim and Ryan Dandeneau and Brad Rabitor eventually emerged with a one-stroke victory, posting a 12 under par score of 59 on the par 71 Connecticut National Golf Club layout.

Three foursomes were close behind at minus 11with scores of 60.  Finishing second by virtue of matching cards was the group of Brandon Carita, Jason Ringe, Eric Livingston and Gary Rudman.  The show place foursome was Steve Bucknam, Bill Slaney, Richard Boyes and Buzz King.

The other foursome with an identical score of 60 was Ed Desaulnier, Armand Gaudette, Dick Baribeault and Ron Jones, who were crowned the Net Champion with a score of 40.75.  They were followed, in second place by the group of Jim St. Jean, Dan Bellerive, and Rob and Tim Gosselin at net 41.5.  Third place net went to the group of Jeff Simpson, Jack Mooney, George Lachapelle and Paul Burgess at 42.75 net.

In the closest-to-the-pin contests on the five par-3 holes the winners were, Rene Barbeau (Hole #4), Bruce McLeod (#7), Larry Guglieta (#9), Jason Ringe (11) and Gary Rudman (#15).  The foursome captained by Mike Meehan captured two of the four prizes in the Skins competition.  They had Skins on the par-3, 4th hole with a birdie and on the par 5, 18th hole with an eagle.  The other Skins were won by the Dandeneau foursome with an eagle on the Par-4, 2nd hole and the foursome captained by Eric Whittenberg, which posted an eagle on the par-5, 6th hole.

Prior to the tournament, Rotary Club President Delpha Very presented the tournament’s top award, the Ace in the Hole award,  to Northeast Connecticut Dental Associates, represented by Dr. Jeff Simpson and Dr. Jack Mooney, for its support of the event over the years.  This year Northeast Connecticut Dental Associates was a Tent Sponsor.

“I’d like to thank all of our sponsors, golfers and volunteers for their support of our tournament.  In particular it’s a pleasure to present the Closest-to-the-Heart Award to our good friends the folks at Northeast Connecticut Dental Associates.  The Putnam Rotary Club is very thankful for all in our community who support the many functions of our organization,” said Very.

The proceeds of the tournament go to support the 14 scholarships of $1000 each that are distributed to high school seniors in the Club’s five towns of Putnam, Thompson, Wood

stock, Pomfret and Eastford.  The club also distributes and additional $20,000 to local non-profits and supports international projects of Rotary International.

“It’s another successful tournament in the books for the Putnam Rotary Club.  It couldn’t happen without our supporters and our many volunteers.  Plans are underway for next year as we strive to improve this event,” said McNerney.

Working with McNerney on the organizing committee were Peter Benoit, Elizabeth Buzalski, Fred Chmura, Aileen Witkowski, Doug Porter, President Very, Charles Puffer, Jonathan Tremblay and Marc Archambault.