The Tradition Continues
THE SENIORS on the WMHS football team with the 2017-18 Warrior premier sponsor board at the 13th annual Warrior Club Golf Tournament. (Courtesy Photo)
Published in the August 16, 2017 edition
The following was submitted by Kelly Baker, President of the Wakefield Warrior Club
WAKEFIELD — The 13th annual Warrior Club Golf Tournament was held on Monday, August 7, 2017 at the Beverly Golf & Tennis Club in Beverly, Massachusetts. This was our fourth year in a row of selling out the tournament as 31 Foursomes arrived to celebrate and support, Wakefield Warrior Football – past, present and future!
A few days prior, concern regarding the weather could be heard everywhere, but if it’s the first Monday in August, God knows, that is Wakefield Warrior Golf Tournament Day, and God loves the Warriors! The weather could not have been better and the conditions lead to success on and off the course.
The day began with our golfers being met as they drove into the golf club by the seniors of this year’s varsity football team. Lead by Co-Captains: Alex Joly and Devin O’Brien, the players greeted the golfers with a smile, welcomed them to the event, thanked them for their support and transported their clubs to their golf carts.
From there, golfers checked-in at registration where a team of AMAZING Volunteers assisted them with Raffle and Mulligan tickets and provided them with their gift bags – stuffed with Tournament giveaways. The gift bags were donated by Wakefield Co-Operative Bank and inside, the golfers were provided with: tournament golf shirts with the Warrior Insignia, sponsored by The Savings Bank and 128 Plumbing, Heating and Cooling; Wakefield football baseball caps sponsored by Keith’s Tree Service; Warrior insignia ball markers donated by Sardella Signs; a sleeve of golf balls, and assorted discount coupons and flyers from Sakura’s, Del Frisco’s, Kipo’s, Early Harvest Diner, Slice Pizza, Diagnostic Motor Vehicle Inspections, King’s Rail Golf, Brightview Wakefield and Joe Fish. From there, golfers enjoyed a buffet lunch of hot dogs and sausages, onions, and peppers, and chips.
The tournament began with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. As the golfers raced to their starting hole, they were greeted by numerous contest and tee sponsor signs to be seen all throughout the course. Tee sponsors included: North Atlantic Consultants, HD Physical Therapy, Tarpey Insurance, Arbor Tree Service, Fahey Tires, Middlesex Gases & Technology, Alano’s, American Concrete Cutters, Sonny Noto’s, Feng’s Asian Fusion, Chris Barrett Realtors, Honey Dew Donuts, SPASHCO/NFP, Fred and Mary Marshall, Roberto Brothers Landscaping, Delphi Restaurants (Brothers), Caporale’s Fine Wine and Spirits, NorthShore Pool & Spa, Intelligence Security International (ISI), The Law Office of Anthony Drago, The Coughlin Family, Hinchey Brothers Plumbing and Heating, The Optical House, Capone Landscaping, First Energy Heating & Cooling, Ultra Services, Inc., Brightview Wakefield, Diagnostic Motor Vehicle Inspections, Early Harvest Diner, Boston Newspaper Pressmen’s Union – Local 3, Sabatino’s Restaurant, Dockside Restaurant, Slice Pizza, 3A Auto Body, TPx Communications and John Ross – Realtor.
Contest holes were: The 6th hole served as the closest to the pin contest; The 8th hole was the site of the John B. Shevlin, Jr. longest drive contest; the 12th Hole hosted our hole-in-one contest, sponsored by Matt Shevlin, and the 15th hole served as the location of our 50/50 raffle. In addition, each golfer also participated in the www.justinsclimb.org Justin Leo Marshall Memorial putting contest, sponsored by Metalcrafters Inc. www.metalcraftersinc.com/intro.html.
CAN YOU SAY THREE PEAT?! As in 2015 and 2016, the 2017 Winning Foursome was: Bob Sardella, David Cullen, George Hurley, and Allison Sassarossi with a 13 under Par, 57! In addition to bragging rights and the title of 2017 Warrior Club golf champions, each received a $100 gift certificate to Sabatino’s Restaurant in Wakefield and a player’s pass which provides 12 months of greens fee discounts at over 2000 golf courses.
Coming in Second Place with a 12 under Par 58 was the Team of: Rich Chambers, Mike Foley and Mike Coombs. For their efforts, they received $75 gift certificates to Sonny Noto’s Restaurant in Wakefield and a red Warrior Club insignia golf umbrella.
The Highlight of the day centered around our individual contest winners. The 159 yard, Par 3 – 6th Hole served as the venue for our Closest-to-the-Pin Contest and Tom Gaudet was the Men’s Winner with a distance of 0’0” – Tom hit A HOLE-IN-ONE!!! Never in the history of the Warrior Club tournament has that ever happened. In recognition of his accomplishment, The Warrior Club is commissioning a Plaque from the golf course to commemorate the achievement.
On the Ladies side, Karen Barrett was the winner with a distance of 12’9”.
In The Longest Drive Contest, the Men’s Winner was Tom Dicker and the Women’s Winner was Julia Derendal.
The 50/50 Winner was John Keegan.
At the conclusion of the tournament, all Golfers were off to the Banquet, sponsored by Wakefield Co-operative Bank, to check the results of the raffle drawings, participate in the silent auction, and enjoy a beverage and the buffet with their Warrior Club friends and family. During the banquet, Tournament Chairman, Jim Joly shared that this was his last year coordinating the event and stated: “When my son, Alex graduates next June, so do I!” Jim introduced Lori O’Keefe, next year’s Tournament Chairwoman to the group and added: “Remember this face and her name for when the phone rings or there’s a knock on your door next year!”
Joly went on to thank all the participants. He said, “I would like to personally thank all of you for taking the time and for giving as generously as you do. Without your continued support and the backing of so many businesses, the Warrior Club could not provide the bridge between the resources of the High School and the experience we all want our student-athletes to have.” He ended by stating: “It has been my honor and privilege to share the first Monday in August with you for the past four years. I know this Warrior Club family reunion will continue to be a tremendous success.”
The Wakefield Warrior Club is a 501 C (3) organization supporting the WMHS Football Program. We meet the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m., in the Community Room at the Public Safety Building. All football parents are welcome to come and participate in our next meeting on September 6.
