Alumni, friends raise more than $115,000 for student scholarships at Foundation Golf Tournament

June 24, 2024
By: Deborah Alvarez O'Neil

More than 200 alumni, comununity and business leaders, and friends of the university, came out for a picture-perfect day of golfing, camaraderie and an auction to support Worcester State student scholarships on June 3. Held at both Wachusett Country Club and Kettle Brook Golf Club, the 31st Worcester State Foundation Board Golf Tournament raised more than $115,000 for Worcester State student scholarships and educational programming.

“Worcester State’s Foundation Golf Tournament has become a signature, annual event providing an opportunity to not only raise critical funds for scholarship support but also a chance to build community partnerships and connections in and around Worcester,” said Tom McNamara ’94, vice president of University Advancement. “Our 31st tournament was another success and continues to illustrate how connected our alumni are to the local community. Many alumni who play in the tournament are also playing as corporate sponsors. This happens often and speaks to the university’s deep connection to the Worcester area as a region.”

Ninety percent of Worcester State graduates remain in Massachusetts, McNamara noted, filling local schools, hospitals, and boardrooms, and powering the local economy. “I’m proud to be part of this engaged community of donors, friends, and partners, supporting a common goal: making higher education accessible for a greater number of students through scholarship support.  I’m deeply appreciative of our sponsors, our players, and my team who work hard to run this event each year.”

Here are the winners for this year’s event:

Kettle Brook Winners

  • Closest to the Pin Competition: Jeff Rosen
  • Longest Drive Competition: Michelle Kile, Matt Magaire
  • Overall 1st Place: Berkshire Bank Team, Jim Bertone, Brendan Hannen, Dan Donahue, Jody Ruonala
  • Overall 2nd Place: Country Bank Team, Patrick O’Hara, Sam Percy, Michael Hippert
  • Overall 3rd Place: Rollstone Bank & Trust Team, Tony Rakic ’98, Matt Smith, Marty Conners, Chris Conners
  • Mixed Division: Neil Doherty, Tobias Ford, Jennifer Mundy ’83
  • Senior Division: Mark Williams ’78, Rick Trembowicz, John Donaghue ’76, Steve Sargent

Wachusett Winners

  • Closest to the Pin Competition: Janet Ferullo Doda ’77, Tim Gardell
  • Longest Drive Competition: Kelsa Zereski, Keith Bianchini
  • Overall 1st Place: Seven Hills Team, Bill Stock, Joe Tosches, Ken Wood, Matt Lukasevicz
  • Overall 2nd Place: Dana Perry ’16, Chris Hanson ’16, Eddie Peladeau ’17, Luke Robare ’18
  • Overall 3rd Place: Hannaford & Dumas Team, Dave Fletcher, Brian Hegan, Jim Morris, Mark Nazaro
  • Mixed Division: Kelsa Zereski, Jan Fuller, Mark Fuller, Scott Fuller
  • Women’s Division: Janet Ferullo Doda ’77, Jean Landry ’79, Karen Tessmer, Rosie Naughton ’05
  • Senior Division: Jack Hehir ’73, Jim Hehir ’76, Bob Farley ’75, Paul Jarvey ’74

This year’s event had more than 55 sponsors led by Presenting Sponsor Mr. Gene J. DeFeudis and Gold Sponsors Chartwells, Ricciardi Bros., Inc. and Dr. G.B. and Mrs. Lexi Singh ’85.

Other sponsors included: Bronze Sponsors NES Group, Inc. and Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company; Cart Sponsors Chacharone Properties, DCU, Gilbane Building Company, Morse, Rockland Trust and Unicare; Media Sponsor, Worcester Business Journal;  Program Book Sponsor, Hannaford & Dumas; Breakfast Sponsor, Fuel America; Hole In One Sponsor, NAI Glickman Kovago & Jacobs; Putting Green Sponsors Baystate Savings Bank, BNY Mellon Wealth Management, Country Bank. ForHealth Consulting at UMass Chan Medical School, Quinn’s Irish Pub, and Rubin & Rudman; Patron Sponsor, Richard Riley, Jr. ‘76; Signage Sponsor, Sunshine Sign; Registration Table Sponsors Berkshire Bank, Cornerstone Bank, Cutler Capital Management, Fidelity Bank, Seven Hills Foundation, Unibank; and  19th Hole Sponsors Bollus Lynch, Fletcher Tilton PC, National Grid, Phoenix Communications and Stutman Contracting, Inc.

Hole Sponsors included All Points Limousine, Bells Lawn & Garden Center, Bowditch, Casella, Central One Federal Credit Union, DeFeudis Realty, Environmental Systems Company, eri, Lamoureux Pagano & Associates, Inc., Lawrence Sasso Insurance & Financial Services, Machado Consulting, McDavitt Wealth Management, Minuteman Security & Life Safety, National Glass Works, Inc., Nault Architects, Inc., Renaud HVAC & Controls, Inc., Robert Half, Rollstone Bank & Trust, Salerno Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning, Sterling Concrete and St. Mary’s Credit Union.

Auction donors included Bayside Resort Hotel, Cornerstone Bank, Neil Doherty ’82, Hanover Theater, Carl Herrin, Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises, Old Sturbridge Village, Pat’s Peak, Salem Witch Museum, Sharen Shipley ’74, Tatnuck Country Club, Total Wine & More and the Worcester Historical Museum.

Photos by Nancy Sheehan. View the full photo album from the day here.

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