Golfers Roll the Dice and Come Up Birdies at Jesuit Golf Classic

Posted April 13, 2015 / Last updated April 15, 2015

Jesuit president Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J. ’66, along with Golf Classic chairs of present and past, welcome Blue Jay golfers to this year’s tournament at English Turn. From left (with the year they served as chair in parenthesis) are Bill Hare ’90 (2015), Eddy Hayes ’90 (2013), and J.P. Escudier ’95 (2014).

View the 2015 Jesuit Golf Classic Photo Gallery

What looked like it might be a washout turned out to be a beautiful morning of golf for participants in the 2015 Jesuit Golf Classic. Most afternoon players finished about 14-15 holes before lightning forced course officials to stop play. More than 210 Blue Jays and Jesuit supporters ignored the elements on Friday, April 10 to play the challenging Jack Nicklaus-designed course at English Turn Golf and Country Club.

The winning foursomes were determined using a Jesuit-inspired (and English Turn approved) innovative handicap scoring system that divided golfers into three flights based on how they finished.

Morning Round

The morning round, consisting of almost 100 golfers, was won by George Sins and Regan Leopold of the Class of ’94, Al Sassi, and Robert Emmett ’09. The winning foursome shot a blistering 17-under-par 55. Their card showed only two pars, a string of birdies, and an eagle on the course’s signature hole, the par-five 15th island green.

The foursome of Sid Candies, Rick Chanove ’89, Phillip Lee, and Chris Watermeier ’89 took second place. Quinn Vorhaben ’96, Harry Vorhaben ’65, Bill Weed ’65, and Al deBaroncelli finished third.

Afternoon Round

The afternoon round was won by Mike Pizzitola and Sean Hardy from the Class of 2002, Ryan Peters ’06, and Phillip Kelly ’04. They carded a 16-under-par 56.

Second place in the afternoon went to the foursome of Paul Stahls ’94, and Ryan Plummer, Steven Serio, and Matt Stahls from the Class of 1996. Donnie Ellis ’88, Mike Ellis ’95, Rich Vanderbrook ’87, and Josh Keller ’96 finished third.

Class Cup

The Class Cup, presented to the low-scoring foursome of alumni from the same class, was awarded to a quartet from the Class of 1989: John Holmes, Patrick McGoey, Garrett Morris, and Todd Tournillon. They recorded a 10-under-par 62. The Class Cup was established in 2012 and always jump starts a spirited competition among classes. Past winners include teams from 1992 (2012), 1987 (2013), and 1995 (2014). All four tournaments were played at English Turn.

Other Awards

The longest drive contest (hole #14) was won by Matt Bonilla ’02 (morning) and Wiggins Edrington ’92 (afternoon). George Joint ’68 (morning) and Jimmy Holmes ’83 (afternoon) won the closest to the hole competition (hole #8).

Jesuit thanks 2015 Golf Classic chairman Bill Hare ’90 and his committee: Beth Bares, Br. Billy Dardis, S.J. ’58, J.P. Escudier ’95, D.J. Galiano ’07, Mat Grau ’68, Eddy Hayes ’90, Vinson Knight, Mike Rodrigue ’71, Krista Roeling, Wendy Schneider, Cherie Turk-Adler, and Mike Whitsell. A special thanks to Anne Barnes for coordinating a blue and white army of volunteers.

Finally, thanks to the Class of 2006 — Jeff Ganucheau, Ricky Becnel, James Linn, John Pivach, and Vincent Scelfo — for barbecuing hamburgers, chicken, and hot dogs for the lunch crowd.

Galleries

Jesuit Golf Classic, April 10, 2015

Steve Losavio, Edwin Lee, and Mark Gates '66 played the course in the morning.
Working the registration table are (seated, from left) Lisa Kuebel and Kathy Weidner; (standing, from left) Golf Classic volunteer coordinator Anne Barnes, Sam McAloon, Jeanie Favret, Krista Roeling, and LEF coordinator Logan Diano.
J.P. Escudier '95, Mike Escudier '91, and Jesuit principal Peter Kernion '90 enjoy a relaxing lunch.
Blue Jays from the Class of 1999: Toby Thevenot, Ryan Chin, Douglas Plaeger, and Jacob Schackleford.
A father-son Blue Jay team: Claude '60 and Chris Cutitto '83
Bryan Wolff and Tim Sicard of the Class of '82 enjoy catching up.
Bill Eastin '59 is ready to tackle the course with his golfing partner David Bennett, who is the father of a 2014 alumnus.
Blue Jay parents John Burke and John Zvonek join alumni brothers Lenny Caruso '68 and Dave Caruso '70 at lunch.
John Ryan '70 and Mike Varisco '83
Morning golfers and afternoon duffers come together for a delicious lunch amidst the splendor of English Turn's Grand Ballroom.
Danny Dodson '95, Todd Golemi '95, Gray Stoulig '95, Jesuit football coach Mark Songy, and assistant football coach Troy Baglio.
Jimmy Holmes '83 tees off on the par three number eight hole, which was picked for "closest to the hole" contest by English Turn pros.
Jimmy Holmes's shot on the par three number eight stood up as "closest to the hole" in the afternoon round.
Preparing to tee off on the ninth hole are Bryan Wolff '82, Rick Kuebel '82, Jimmy Holmes '83, and Paul Queyrouze '82.
Kurt Forshag '70 lets it rip on the difficult par four fifth hole.
This foursome of Mike Ellis '95, Rich Vanderbrook '87, Josh Keller '96, and Donnie Ellis '88 are prepared to tee off on the par four seventh hole.
John Burke, John Zvonek, and Craig Brewer.
Jacob Braud '95 has that look that screams, "If I had a mulligan, I would have birdied the hole!"
Kent Broussard and Daniel Pierre of Jesuit's maintenance department play a vital role in making sure all of the designated stations on the sprawling course are well stocked with ice cold refreshments.
Alex Yonder and Curtis Pursell represented the Class of 2003.
Volunteer Dale Hunn '68 and Tom Bagwill, director of institutional advancement, dish out shrimp and grits to morning golfers.
A pair from the Class of '94: Regan Leopold (left) and George Sins listen to last minute instructions before heading to the tee box.
Retired athletic director and coach Frank Misuraca dropped by to greet golfers, including Tyronne Hubbard '78, who made the trip in from Dallas to participate in this year's event.
A shotgun start and applause send the golfers scurrying toward their starting holes.
Ron Montalbano '83, Ron Mills, Travis Bonifacic '94, and Richard Slattery '83.
The Class of '97 was represented by Bill Wynne, Lance Sannino, Stephen Parrish, and Josh Marino.
Al Demarest '57 played solo until his brother joined him on the course.
Quinn Vorhaben '96 with his father Harry Vorhaben '65.
Volunteers Jeanie Favret and Anne Barnes make sure the food stations are well stocked.
Two Jesuit staffers - alumni director Mat Grau '68 and D.J. Galiano '07 - jump for joy over the latest weather report that had the rain staying away from the morning golfers.
Four aces from the Class of '68: Jay Baudier, Mike McGlone, George Joint, and Andy Williams. A fixture in the '68 group, Bill Steen, had to bow out after suffering a hand injury.
Mike Levy '70, director of institutional advancement Tom Bagwill, executive development coordinator Krista Roeling (who was one of the chief coordinators of the tournament), John Ryan '70, and Mike Rodrigue '71.
Chris Casey '92, Keith Jenkins '99, Bill Guider '99, and Joe Barnett '94
Matt Bonilla '02 won the longest drive contest among the morning golfers.
The Class of 2002 entered a pair of foursomes. Kneeling: Trey Fury and Julien Chouest; standing: Kenny Miller, Marc Burmaster, Derek Morel, Rajan Pandit, Matt Bonilla, and John Keller.
Principal Peter Kernion '90 and Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J. '66, president of Jesuit, share a laugh over the many funny stories they pick up at the tournament.
This year's lunchtime grilling team consisted of Vincent Scelfo, James Linn, John Pivach, Jeff Ganucheau, and Ricky Becnel, all from the Class of 2006.
Golf Classic chairmen of present and past, along with Fr. McGinn, welcome Blue Jay golfers to this year's event at English Turn: (from left) Bill Hare '90 (2015), Eddy Hayes '90 (2013), and J.P. Escudier '95 (2014).