by Mary Ann McCulley

As September turns to October, thoughts turn to the annual Sacred Heart Parish Golf Tournament. This year on Friday, October 1, as the skies brightened over the George Wright Golf Course, the two "Bobs," Quinn and Lepore, were seen faithfully setting up sponsor signs at each tee and green, while Rich McCulley delivered the coffee and doughnuts, Dunkin' of course, to the gathering place where the connoisseurs of this sport were preparing to play.

As usual, the "Sowden Bowl Alumni" were some of the first to arrive and were spearheaded by Jim and Irene Kilroy. Not only do these alumni come to play, but they are also very generous to the tournament. In their donation in memory of Tom "Tootsie" Gormley, they touchingly stated that he was their "big brother and friend" and that he "will always be remembered for all the good things he did for us when we were kids."

The Sowden Bowl group also remebered the following departed friends: Jean "Lee" Brown, Gene Burke, Joe Celata, Frank Cronin, Joe Deely, John Keady, Bob "Fishie" Kearney, Joe Lyons, Bob "Spud" Murphy, Jim Roche, John and Len Sandock, and Fran Walsh.

The Tournament's chief benefactor, The Cooperative Bank, always sends a team of stouthearted men to try to win first prize. Another of its sponsors, Roche Bros. Supermarkets, was staunchly represented on the course by Bud and Eileen Roche as they teamed with Eleanor Mustin and John Power.

Msgr. Frank Kelley seems to have an "in" with the "Man Upstairs" because every year we have outstanding weather for this fun event. This year, Father Tim Kearney served as photographer. Once again, Sacred Heart School principal Sr. Gail Ripley and parish pastoral associate Sr. Virginia Bobrowski made repeat appearances, waiting patiently by the fifteenth hole to gently encourage the players to hit from the women's tee, for a "small donation." Judging from their bulging envelope, these ladies were quite effective!

Behind the scenes where they took care of registration, raffle tickets, Mulligans, etc. was the dedicated team of Mary O'Hara, Loretta Chmura, Adriana Cillo, Irene Kilroy, Mary Ann McCulley, Terri Munro, and Colleen Verity. Due to the absence of Sacred Heart School's assistant principal Monica Haldiman this year, Colleen Verity, also from Sacred Heart School, graciously stepped in to help out.

Meanwhile on the course, the players, sporting really nice New Balance vests, were having a great time! First place this year went to the "Fairway Friends": Tom McHugh, Verner Moore, and Jim Sandler who are annual participants.

First place in the Senior Division went to the "Walsh Wonders": James, Peter, and William Walsh, along with Jack Prendergast. Monogrammed "weeping towels" were presented to two teams this year for tying in last place: the "Hook Shots" comprised of Bill, Paul and Chris O'Bnen, along with Bill Dittrich and the "Slicers" comprised of Jim Brennan, Joe Donnolly, Frank McKernan, and Jack Rowley. We wish them better luck next year!

The putting contest, dutifully overseen this year by Rev. Tim Kearney, was won by the "Rough Riders": Scott Jackson, Matt McCulley, Jay Ojerholm, and Matt Tundreault. Other prizes were awarded to Ed Walsh for the longest drive; to Eileen Roche for the longest female drive; to Chris Deely for closest to the pin on the seventeenth hole, and to Gene Kerrigan for closest to the pin on the fourth hole.

The following is the full roster of this year's golfers: Jerry Algere, Matthew Baronas, Frank Bowler, Jim Brennan, Al Celata, Brian Clinton, Brian Cloonan, Peter Conlon, Rob Consalvo, Brian Crovo, Kevin Crovo, Paul Crovo, Stephen Crovo, Bill Crowley, Ken Cunningham, James Currie, Chris Deely, Edward Deely, Bill Dittrich, Brian Doherty, Joseph Donnolly, Dan Fraine, David Fraine, Denis Fraine, Edward Fraine, Ed Freeley, Keith Garland, Robert Graham, Ed Hogarty, Dan Hughes, Duane Jackson, Scott Jackson, Gene Kerrigan, James Kilroy, John Kilroy, Paul Ladouceur, Jerry Martin, Doug McClure, Sr., John "Red" McClure, Matt McCulley, Tom McHugh, Frank McKernan, Charles McManus, Ivan Montes, Verner Moore, Luke Moran, Kenny Morero, Steve Morris, Eleanor Mustin, Robert Norberg, Christopher O'Brien, Paul O'Brien, William O'Brien, John O'Connell, Brendan T O'Hara, Brendan P O'Hara, Joe O'Hara, Michael O'Hara, Jay Ojerholm, Charles Palermo, Michael Pavone, Arthur Powell, Jim Powell, John Power, Jack Prendergast, Daniel "Bud" Roche, Eileen Roche, Jack Rowley, Jim Sandler, Angelo Scaccia, Stuart Sheldon, Michael Sherman, Miguel Suarez, John Sullivan, Skip Tately, Matt Tundreault, Eliud Vega, Ed Walsh, James Walsh, Kevin Walsh, Paul Walsh, Peter Walsh, Richard Walsh, William Walsh, Henry Winkler, and Jimmy Zimmerman.

After golfing, the participants sat down to a lovely meal and raffle prizes were drawn. Autographed Red Sox memorabilia was the "hot" item this year. Dessert was a beautiful and delicious sheet cake generously provided by Andy Boschetto. The chairman of the Golf Committee, Gene Kerrigan, thanked all for their continued assistance and participation in this annual affair and encouraged folks to bring a few more friends next year. The event will once again take place in October.

Many thanks go to The Cooperative Bank for serving as chief benefactor; to the following Sowden Bowl Alumni for their donation: John E. Amico, Mary Lyons Amsler, Theresa and Walter Boggio, Charles M Buchanan, Alfred Celata, Edward Celata, Loretta G. Chmura, Gerald Deeley, John F. Gallagher, Jim and Irene Kilroy, John F Kilroy, Bernice Lameiras, Thomas McDonough, Nancy Melia, Margaret Murphy, Eleanor Mustin, Maureen Robinson, Nancy Rogers, and Edward J. Walsh.

The following donated at the "tee or green" level: In Memory of Mark Bavis; Thomas Carrigg & Son Monuments; Joan Cavanaugh; Loretta G. Chmura; Classic Cleaners Inc.; In Memory of Mortimer Coakley; The Coakley Family; City Councilor Rob Consalvo; J. B. Edward Uniforms; Rev. Dan Finn of St. Mark's Parish; "John, Peter, Keith & Frank"; "Heart Beats" of Sacred Heart Parish; F. J. Higgins Funeral Home Inc.; Hot Springs Property Management - "Paul Chmura"; Hyde Park Cooperative Bank; Hyde Park Savings Bank; Rev. Msgr. Francis H. Kelley; Jim and Irene Kilroy; Vinny Marino; The McCulley Family; Mortgage Express Inc. - "Barry Shields"; Our Lady's Sodality of Sacred Heart Parish; Roslindale Sons of Italy; Sacred Heart Parish 1000 Club; Sacred Heart School Faculty; State Rep. Angelo Scaccia; Schell Printing Company, Inc.; Sebastian's Barber Shop; Residences of Snow Place; St. Theresa of Avila Parish; Mary E. Sullivan; James Tieso and Family; and Catherine Tobin.

The following donated at the "sandtrap or water hole" level: In Memory of Mortimer Coakley; Thomas and Ann Joyce; and South West Boston CDC.

Our thanks also go to the following merchants for donating gift certificates: Corrib Pub & Restaurant; The Rattlesnake Bar & Grill; Ron's Gourmet Ice Cream; Roslindale Hardware; Tony's Market; Village Sushi & Grill; and Yummies & Goodies, along with the following who provided donations: Boston College; Boston Red Sox; Dunkin' Donuts (Roslindale); Jim Kilroy; Mayor Thomas Menino; Imperial Monogram; Mt. Washington Bank; New England Patriots; and Sr. Gail Ripley, CSJ.

See you on the links for next year's exciting 8th Annual Golf Tournament.