More than 130 golfers leave the staging area during yesterday’s Southwick Police Association Golf Tournament at the Edgewood Country Club. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – Columbus Day was a great day for leef peeping, harvest fairs, and the 18th Annual Southwick Police Association Golf Tournament.
Organizers Lt. Kevin Bishop, Sgt. Kirk Sanders and Chief David Ricardi expected to bring in more than $5,000 for the SPA Monday.
“It was a beautiful day,” said Bishop.
The tournament attracted 136 golfers and the winning foursome – Michael Slyne, Lee Albertson, Steve Lafabue, and Jim Tinker – set a record, coming in -19.
Lt. Kevin Bishop, left, president of the Southwick Police Association, welcomes more than 130 golfers to the Southwick Police Association Golf Tournament at the Edgewood Golf Course Monday. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Sanders said the next closest team had -12.
“And they had five eagles,” noted Jerome Azia, who helped tally score cards.
Slyne, of Granby, Conn., said he had a great team.
“I joined Tekoa Country Club this year and a few people approached me and said they wanted to do this tournament,” Slyne said.
Slyne is no stranger to first place, having won this tournament about 10 years ago.
“We had some challenges going with other teams,” Slyne said of the foursome’s motivation to win.
Tom Schmidt, of Agawam, was a first-time contestant during yesterday’s Southwick Police Association Golf Tournament in Southwick. More than 130 golfers competed. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
The friendly competition paid off for the team, who earned high-end wind shirts embroidered with their names, and free entry to next year’s tournament.
Bishop said the tournament always has a good showing.
“It’s toward the end of golf season and it’s one of the last tournaments of the year, and a lot of people like to close out their season at our tournament,” Bishop said.
Proceeds of the tournament benefit the SPA scholarship program for high school students, youth programs such as Team Justice Racing, families in need, and other local charitable organizations.
Corporate and local sponsors help make the tournament a success, as well as the much anticipated raffle. Bishop said this year there were some exceptional items at the raffle.
“Chief Ricardi came through big time with great raffle donations,” Bishop said.
Other winners at the event included the Hole 5 Longest Drive winner Jim Tinker; the Hole 6 Closest to the Pin winner of three feet, Rick Anderson, The Hole 8 Closest to the Pin winner with 10 feet, six inches, Jeff Nelson; Hole 11 Closest to the Pin winner at 13 feet one inch, J.R. Colon; Hole 13 Closest to the Pin winner with five feet, Derek Gendron; and Hole 17 Closest to the Pin winner with eight inches, the tournament champion foursome.
Sanders said there were no hole-in-one winners this year. Prizes for those rare shots included a boat from Saunders and a $5,000 cash prize, which someone won last year.
Bishop thanked all the golfers, sponsors, donors, and volunteers for their hard work in running the tournament. The event took place at Edgewood Golf Course and ended with a dinner at Roma Restaurant.
