Fun, food and ten thousand bucks!
In short, that pretty much sums up Sunday’s Johnston Memorial Cancer Events Co-Ed Memorial Golf Tournament played at legendary Glocester Country Club in Chepachet.
Although a blanket of fog covered the unique nine-hole lakeside layout but that didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits or prevent the JMCE from recording another mighty milestone for Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
“We called the (scheduled 18-hole) tournament off after just nine holes,” explained Co-Chair Linda LaFazia. “But no one seemed to mind; we all went back into the clubhouse and enjoy our many friendships as well as a pre-tee off lunch and later a wonderful meal for dinner prepared by our (GCC) Chef Nery of Js Catering.”
The most important thing was, though, by way of special sponsorships, the work of volunteers and GCC members the 2023 Co-Ed Memorial Golf Tournament raised $10,000 that will help children who have been stricken with cancer and are in Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence.
One reason for the Co-Ed Memorial’s ongoing success is that the GCC membership has adopted Hasbro Children’s Hospital as it designated charity and as LaFazia and her Co-Chair/friend Judi Graham said: “WE would like to extend our sincere and deepest appreciation to Glocester Country Club, our special sponsors, friends and members for their special support.”
David and Judi Graham, who own and operate Graham Builders of Smithfield were the day’s major sponsors and gave each of the 76 players a jacket that came in handy with the day’s rain. Also, RELCO Electrical, WESCO Oil and The Martin Family were sponsors that helped make the Co-Ed Memorial an overwhelming success.
“This was another great day for the JMCE,” many people concurred.
There was a great lunch consisting of meatball and sausage and pepper sandwiches prepared by Tom Morra and Paul Catougno and Brian Curley and Tom Bennett set up gas grills to Saugy hot dogs despite the rain while Don and Cynthia DiBlasi, Carolyn O’Keefe, Justine Turbitt and Peg Brown were among the volunteers.
“We would be remiss if we did not thank our pro Shane Drury and his staff for their dedication to our tournament,” LaFazia. “We will hope to see everyone back here again in 2024.”
Golf-wise, the foursomes of Troy Hewes Judy DiIorio, Mary Higgins and Jesse Higgins took gross score honors while Walter Geer, Michy Nanni, Tracy Uriati and Dewey Uriati were the Net winners.