At This Year’s Golf Classic, Blue Jays Slog Over a Cold, Wet English Turn, with Frequent Pit Stops for the Culinary Delights
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ShareNot Even Elements of a Hostile Nature Can Dampen the Indomitable Spirit of Blue Jay Duffers
A cold front that brought thunderstorms to the area created tough conditions for the 170 golfers that came to play in the morning and afternoon flights at the annual Jesuit Golf Classic held Friday, April 19 at English Turn Golf & Country Club.
How tough were the conditions on the course?
Too tough for the almost 50 Jays who registered to play, but instead, decided to go to the office and work.
Still, there were 170 Blue Jays who believed in that old maxim about a bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at the office, and braved off and on showers, a cold and biting north wind, those lousy three-putt greens — and at some point in the afternoon — even hail and locusts.
These stalwart duffers ignored the nusiances, obstacles, and distractions by making frequent, leisurely pit stops along the soggy course to experience ice cold raw oysters on the half shell, savory red beans & rice, and winter-busting duck and andouillie sausage gumbo that warmed hearts, all courtesy of Acme Oyster House. Drago’s grilled numerous sacks of oysters on the half shell, a delicacy much appreciated by golfers whose hands had become numb.
Golfers who played in the morning flight were treated to shrimp and grits, a delicacy served up by Sandy Duplantier and Michael Lavie, a pair of Blue Jays from the Class of 1980. In the morning, Galatoire’s served its famous shrimp remoulade on the back nine. In the afternoon, John Fitzpatrick ’86 personally served his famous grilled shrimp tacos. Both flights shared grilled burgers and chicken for lunch, courtesy of several alumni, including Blue Jays from the Classes of 1969, 1971, and 2006.
The winners of the 2nd Annual Blue Jay Class Champions’ Cup was a foursome from the Class of 1987: Faris Altikriti, Eddy Carreras, Brandon Kershaw, and Jay Martinez.
Galleries
Jesuit Golf Classic, April 19, 2013
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Jesuit parent John Hotard (right) sinks a 10-foot putt for a birdie 3 on the fourth hole, much to the jubilation of 1959 classmates Jack Dardis (left) and Dave Bennett. -
Quinn and the Swan: Quinn Vorhaben ’96 scoops a golf ball from a puddle close to the water’s edge on the 15th hole, oblivious to the swan that has an eye on the Jay. -
Ryan Casteix ’01, Adam Whitworth, Craig Cousins, and Donald McKay shot a magnificent 12-under par 60, the lowest score turned in for the day. Golf Classic chairman Eddy Hayes ’90 congratulates the foursome and gives them plaques. -
The 12-under 60 scorecard -
Jesuit alumni director Mat Grau hoists the Class Champion cup won by the Class of ’87 in the morning flight. -
Blue Jay golfers who braved the rain and chilly weather to play in the 2013 Jesuit Golf Classic at English Turn were greeted at the registration table by a host of volunteers whose warm smiles melted even the crustiest of curmudgeons. From left are Ann Barnes, Sheila Vocke, Sam McAloon, Mary Anderson, Lori Ryan, Jeanie Favret, and Fr. Norman O’Neal, S.J. who serves as alumni chaplain. -
Roland Waguespack ’92 holds the Blue Jay Class Champions’ Cup he and his teammates won in its inaugural year in 2012. -
Morning golfers were treated to a breakfast of shrimp and grits prepared by Sandy Duplantier and Michael Lavie of the Class of ’80. -
George Sins ’94 and Preston Perez ’04 discover the pastry table. -
Jesuit parent John Hotard with Fr. O’Neal -
Rocky Daigle ’85 (center), who served as chairman at last year’s tournament, is flanked by his classmate Ken Boe (left) and fellow volunteer Hank Ecuyer ’52. Boe, Daigle, and Ecuyer are among some 30-plus Blue Jays who volunteer at this special event. Only the weather is beyond their control. -
After a one hour delay because of weather, golfers are given the green light to drive to their assigned starting holes. Leading the brigade heading to the back nine are 1959 classmates Eddie Rice and Mark Rodi. -
This foursome of classmates from 1987 take a par 4 on the seventh hole. From left are Faris Altikriti, Eddy Carreras, Brandon Kershaw, and Jay Martinez. -
Bill Wynne (left) and his classmates from 1997 — Randy Montgomery, Benton Marino, and Ridge Bourgeois — shot a 7-under 65 to finish in third place. -
Brian Passentino ’87, second from left, played with a trio of parents of alumni — Gary Hollander, Andrew Doran, and Scott Ingram. -
Michael Touchy, the father of an alumnus, Steve Johns ’65, and Bill Hare ’90 rotated shots for their missing fourth golfer. -
Bill Eastin ’59 was out of view in the preceding photo. He was joined by classmate Jack Dardis, Dave Bennett (parent of alum), and John Hotard, parent of a current student. Bennett won the closest to the hole contest on the par 3 8th hole. -
As his playing partners watch, John McMahon ’87 chips on the fourth hole. -
John McMahon’s foursome included Lewis Derbes ’89, William Lo ’90, and Andy Songy ’90. -
Enjoying raw oysters on the front nine are Rick Andrée ’65 and Bob McMyne, who is a parent of an alumnus. -
Jesuit ROTC instructor J.R. Piseno just misses this putt for birdie, prompting Robert Rocha to exclaim that there wasn’t supposed to be a break. -
Par is their friend and that is exactly what J.R. Piseno’s foursome carded on this tricky fourth hole. With Piseno are parents of alumni David Williams and Arthur Roussel, and Robert Rocha. -
This foursome of Jeff Gordon, Ryan Chin ’99, Josh Broggi, and Danny Poolson ’99 made a difficult long iron shot from a wet fairway to the seventh green. -
Pocketing a par on the first hole are brothers Steve Barbier ’72, David Barbier ’80, and Thomas Barbier ’84, with their friend Greg Johnson ’88. -
Preston Perez ’04 (second from left) and classmate Eric Wilderotter played with their dads, Paul Perez ’79 and Carl Wilderotter. The foursome shot a 7-under 65 and won a scorecard playoff for second place honors. Additionally, Preston Perez uncorked the longest drive of the day on the 14th hole. -
With only three holes remaining to be played, Bill Wynne ’97 tries to keep his foursome on the course. Wynne pleaded with his classmates, who were tired of the rain, not to give up, and his courtly persuasive powers finally won them over. They returned to the course to finish the round. -
Lunch was served in English Turn’s dining room. -
Faris Altikriti ’87 hoists the Blue Jay Class Champions’ Cup after his foursome posted a 64, the lowest round by alumni from the same class. The 64 held up against class foursomes in the afternoon flight. Altikriti, along with Eddy Carreras, Brandon Kershaw, and Jay Martinez will have their names and class year engraved on the trophy which remains on display at Jesuit High School. -
The Class of 1987’s scorecard shows three birdies on the front and three on the back nine, as well as an eagle on the course’s signature 15th hole, the island green. -
Mike McGlone ’68 sits in the golf cart waiting for Johnny Fitzpatrick ’86 to personally prepare and deliver a grilled shrimp taco. -
Krista Roeling, executive assistant in the institutional advancement office, works the Golf Classic each year alongside the volunteers. Ms. Roeling holds up a golf shirt for Jay Baudier ’68 to inspect thoroughly before accepting the tee-gift. -
Golfers were supposed to gather for lunch under a tent but were driven inside English Turn by the rain which made course conditions challenging, to put it mildly. The Class of ’68 and one ’69er gather around a table in the dining room of English Turn. Clockwise from top: Mike Mitchell ’69 with his friends from ’68 — Andy Williams, Jay Baudier, Jerry Ryder, and Mike McGlone. Mitchell turned out to be the ringer. -
The Caruso Brothers: Lenny ’68 and David ’70 -
After instructions were given to the afternoon golfers, the carts zip off towards the starting holes. -
Stalwart golfers from the Class of ’68 were out in force. From left: Bill Steen, George Joint, Andy Williams, and Mike McGlone. -
The foursome of Rick Schroeder ’76, Dean Falgoust, Charlie Newell, and Chris Capitelli ’97 found trouble here and there along the soggy course, but nothing of any legal consequence. -
Ryan Casteix ’01, Adam Whitworth, Donald McKay, and Craig Cousins leave the island green (15th hole) with a birdie 4. -
A foursome from the Class of ’96: Steven Serio, Jonathan Jones, Luke Ehrensing, and Ryan Plummer stand on the edge of the 10th green. -
Who says golf in the rain isn’t hilarious? Just ask this foursome from the Class of ’97: Jason Fein, Christian Weiler, Kerth Gravener, and Anthony Lama. -
Stephanie Boyd keeps warm under a Blue Jay blanket while Lacey Glorioso steers the beverage cart from one end of the course to the other. -
Three Jays and a Raider: The Cruice Brothers who are Jesuit alums — Gary, Jr. ’76, Mike ’78, and Kevin ’81 — settle family disputes (mostly) amicably ever year by playing in the Classic with their fourth brother, Bradley (right), an alumnus of Archbishop Rummel High School. -
Robbie McMyne ’95 played in a foursome with friend Bill Batherson, father-in-law Robert Killian, and friend Johnny Gallagher. -
Michael Rihner ’78, Jorge Diaz ’84, and Claro Diaz ’80 played a Blue Jay short when Oscar Torres ’78 pulled up at the last minute. -
A colorful foursome of Jays from the Class of ’95: Guy Bumpas, Chad Perniciaro, Cort Ralston, and Jude Kernaghan -
Eddy Hayes ’90 is right smack in the middle — of pretty much everything. The chairman of the 2013 Jesuit Golf Classic, Hayes and a committee of volunteers worked diligently for several months to pull all the loose ends together. Hayes is pictured with his classmate, Bill Hare ’90 (left), and Michael Touchy, father of a Jesuit alumnus. -
Harry Vorhaben ’65 was joined by his son Quinn ’96 and their friends, Al and Craig deBaroncelli. -
The cold rain does not seem to bother this foursome: Jimmy Holmes ’68, Chase Chassaignac, Roberto Miller, and Matt Mount. -
Kelly Burke ’94 joined his classmate Scott Bell and played with two Jays from the Class of ’95: Mark Hughes and Ron Britsch. -
The Blue Jays in the Class of ’89 were represented by Patrick Donnelly, Seamus O’Donnell, Chris Cox, and Walter Maestri. -
Terry Billings and Dennis Muller of the Class of ’74 teamed with the Graffagnino Brothers, Pete and Patrick of the Class of ’75. -
J.P. Escudier ’95, Mike Escudier ’91, and Carl Servat ’93 formed one of the few trios on the course. -
Philip Lee, who is the father of an alumnus, joined Rocky Daigle ’85 and two Jays from the Class of ’87, David Myers and Michael Schenck. -
Brian North ’83, Greg Nolan ’91, Tim Sicard ’82, and Mike North ’82 appear to naturally belong on the West Bank. -
’68 Trio and the ’69 Ringer: Jay Baudier, Jerry Ryder, and Mike Cognevich of the Class of ’68 enticed Mike Mitchell of the Class of ’69 to join the group so they could win just once. They did not win, but they had fun trying. -
Power Foursome: Tommy Calongne ’72, Mike Rodrigue ’71, A.J. Vallon ’73, and Al Zahn ’69 -
Greg Nolan ’91 lands a seven iron second shot about nine feet from the hole, much to the amazement of Brian North ’83, Mike North ’82, and Tim Sicard ’82. -
Len Aucoin ’92, Louis Bartells ’03, David Gibbons ’87, and Joe Mann wait to tee off on the back nine. -
Steven Riley ’80, Chris Cutitto ’83 and his father Claude Cutitto ’60, and Bob Shirer ’54
