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Presentation

Ronald P. Coderre, center, commander of American Legion Post #13 of Putnam, presents the American Legion Golf Tournament Championship Cup to Tom Chenail, left, and David Coderre of the winning foursome.  Along with Rick Dion and George Tsanjoures (absent when photo was taken) the pair captured the 2016 tournament with a score of 56.  Courtesy photo.

 

 

 

Special to the Putnam Town Crier

There were a lot of pats on the back on Sunday, August 28 at the conclusion of play in the 1st American Legion Post #13 Golf Tournament.  The congratulations weren’t necessarily for the winning golfers as much as it was the Post veterans congratulating each other on the success of the tourney.

“Our guys worked very hard together in a very short period of time to put this tournament in place.  The hard work paid off as we reached all our anticipated goals, reaching our financial target, raising $6,700 for our charity programs,” said Post #13 Commander Ronald P. Coderre.

A field of 17 foursomes came together at Connecticut National Golf Club in search of the first championship.  At the conclusion of play the championship cup was presented to the foursome of David Coderre, George Tsanjoures, Rick Dion and Tom Chenail.  As hot as the temperature was on tournament day, the foursome was hotter, firing a 15 under par 56 on the CT National layout.

“I’ve never been involved in a foursome that played so well together.  We picked each other up in every aspect of the game for all 18 holes.  It’s great to win this first American Legion tournament,” said team captain David Coderre.

Finishing second was the group of Roger Franklin, Duke and Matt Parziale and Neil Bernier one stroke off the pace, posting a score of 57.  They bested the team of Norm Seney III, Donnie Marshall, Mike Manzi and John Langelier on matching cards.  The third-place finishers also posted a score of 57.

In the mixed foursome competition the group of David Patenaude, Donna and Conor Duffy and Kevin Lengyl walked off with the title.  There were five mixed foursomes in the field.  In the closest-to-the pin competition Dave Kelly won on the 4th hole, Manzi on the 7th, Langelier on the 9th, Paul Leduc on the 11th and Richard Blackmar on the 15th.

According to Post Financial Officer Eric Quinn, the tournament netted $6,700 in support of the Post’s scholarships, the Boys State and State Police Youth Academy programs, TriTown baseball and the Americanism programs for students in the 5th grade at Putnam Middle School.

Short Putts: Members of the tournament committee were Alan Joslin, Franklin, Quinn, and Charlie Leach…Donnie Marshall former UConn standout basketball player and current television sports personality was in the field of golfers…Post member and Marine Corps veteran Michael Vassar and his wife Michelle were honored for their support of all Post #13 community programs…Vietnam veterans Leach and Patenaude were presented special recognition awards…Volunteers included Dee Carnahan, Robin Coderre, Jo-Ann Joslin, Barney Seney, Julie Quinn, Paul Aldrich and Diane Bates…CT National golf pro and restaurant manager Jennifer West did an outstanding job with the post-tourney meal…Joslin and his foursome of Jon Stringer, Josh Adamec and John Lane were temporarily AWOL, as they decided to play a few extra holes…Gerardi Insurance of Putnam was the tournament’s major sponsor…Bob Auger, former St. Louis Cardinals farmhand, proved he still can hit a golf ball a long way…Killingly Town Manager Sean Hendricks and his wife Erin played with Bob and Joann Chenail…Putnam Business Association President Earl Rosebrooks was in the field as was Putnam Deputy Police Chief Lee Konicki.