Golf Classic helps Sunshine Foundation make dreams come true
Written by Cathy Finnegan Monday, 24 October 2011 12:04
The 16th Annual Sunshine Golf Classic, sponsored by the Messner Foundation, teed off under cloudy skies with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. Co-chairs of the Classic, Carmen D’Angelo and Mike King, arrived at Harbor Pines Golf Club hours before to get ready for this annual fundraiser. While Kate Kelly and Claire Paugh registered golfers, Beth Bowman sold Mulligans, Norma D’Angelo handled door prizes, Carole Aust looked after the Chinese auction, Lynn Brock was in charge of the silent auction and Susanne Pizzutilla gave out gift bags and golf shirts to golfers.
I enjoyed catching up with Bill Sample when I arrived. Bill founded the Sunshine Foundation in 1976. It is the original wish-granting organization that answers dreams of seriously ill, physically challenged and abused children. Eighty-three percent of all donations go directly to children’s programs. Since moving to Ocean City Claire Paugh has gotten very involved and is the new secretary of the Sunshine Foundation. New vice president Carole Aust, who owned Apple A’Peel at 813 Asbury Ave. from 1991-1996, is now a realtor at Berger at 55th Street where she enjoys working with Brian Kolmer. With the Classic in full swing, Beth Bowman and this columnist hopped in a golf cart to cruise the course and take pictures. Golf carts pulled to the side of the road as Beth whizzed by. We passed Joe Paugh checking on golfers who tried to “Beat the Pro.” Sallie Godfrey sent us in the wrong direction to find Beth’s family on the course, but we persevered until we found them. We passed Rich King and Rick Mairone who enjoyed a day out of the office and on the golf course. Beth and I were glad to get back to the clubhouse to get warmed up on this damp and dreary afternoon. Pete Madden was so cold he stopped in the pro shop to purchase a windbreaker.
Tricia Bowman-Branch had just arrived to MC at the dinner for her favorite charity. Tricia reports her business, Integrated Media Solutions, has been named one of the top 500 emerging companies for 2011 by Inc. magazine and coming in November will be among the top 50 in New Jersey. Tricia’s six-year-old daughter Siena is already raising money for charities, her favorite being St. Jude’s to help kids with cancer, while four-year-old Andrew loves swimming. New Sunshine president Mary Jane Weissenberg, who has been involved with the foundation for 25 years, arrived after work. Sitting at hole eight for hours were Norma D’Angelo and Lynn Brock, watching for a hole in one where a Burgundy Chevy Cruze from Perry-Egan sat and waited to be won. These ladies enjoyed several cups of hot coffee after being relieved by Kate Kelly and Claire Paugh. Marianne and John Cotshott were next to arrive. Marianne headed the Cape-Atlantic Chapter of the Sunshine Foundation since 1981 and recently stepped down, but still serves on the board and handles public relations. When this year’s child to have her wish granted, precocious nine-year-old Emily Flatley with acute autism, arrived with her parents, Tina and Jim, and brother, JT, a sophomore at Ocean City High School, she immediately captured the hearts of everyone she met. Emily is in the third grade at the primary school where Katie Bowman is one of her classmates who helps Emily whenever she can. Katie came over for dinner to share with Emily when she had her wish granted.
Harold Messner and his son-in-laws, Tom Cacossa and Tyler Sampson, were some of the first golfers to finish and arrive for dinner where they were joined by their wives, Elaine Messner, Brenda Cacossa and Laura Sampson. The Messner family was looking forward to a vacation in the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee. After playing 18 holes of golf the golfers were hungry so they headed right for the buffet line when they came in. Michael Hoffman looked over this columnist’s shoulder to make sure I didn’t go off my diet. On the way to my table I stopped to chat with Joe Damone who plays in many of the charity golf tournaments, this time with Steve and Joey Cusato and Frank Sessa. I enjoyed the Italian dinner with Beth and Charlie Bowman, Charlie Bowman, Jr., Tom Oves and Greg Whelan. The Bowmans were leaving the next day for Myrtle Beach to attend Jen Bowman’s brother, Steven Crist’s, wedding. After the wedding Jen and Charlie were driving to Disney World with their younger daughters, Katie and Kelsea, while older daughter Caroline was flying home with her grandparents due to school commitments. Since closing their Boardwalk restaurant, Tom Oves likes to golf everyday. Greg Whelan and his wife Michelle and their children, Sophia and Cullen, recently moved back to Ocean City and couldn’t be happier. Michelle is a yoga instructor at the Aquatic and Fitness Center. I caught Richard Booth and his son-in-law Pete Madden eating their dinner at the registration table in the lobby as they couldn’t find seats in the dining room. After Mike King insisted I take a picture of his foursome, Carmen D’Angelo told me to just delete it.
I joked with Lynn Thompson, George Rumer, Joel Mott and Dennis Egan who were at the next table. Lynn is looking forward to getting on the green tee in two years while Joel is still flying back and forth to Florida and finds time to play golf in both places. George had nothing to tell me and has a year to think of something. Dennis was going to have to drive the Chevy Cruz back to Ocean City since nobody got a hole in one. Tricia Branch did a great job as MC. Marianne Cotshott was front and center to grant Emily Flatley’s wish, a trip to Disney World with her parents and brother. Emily also received a large Mickey Mouse stuffed animal and Disney t-shirts. Frank Pizzutilla delivered gift packages, most of which were collected by Carmen D’Angelo, to the lucky winners with Dennis Egan having the first number called. Greg Whelan was delighted when he won the overnight stay and breakfast at the Taj Mahal while Pat Pacifico walked off with the Shriver’s Salt Water Taffy gift boxes. Tom Oves won a gift certificate to McNaughton’s while Tricia Branch admitted it was the first time she ever won when she got the gift certificate for Interior’s by Joann.
Mike King took over to announce the golf winners. Closest to the Pin – Men – Jon Gallagher; Women – Til Parcels. Straightest Drive – Jim Barkalow, Jr. Longest Drive – Men - Joe Berenato , Women – Ginger Sulouski. Tournament winners were: First place – Martin Delaney, Peter Dowd, Joseph Hoehman and Patrick Leary won a foursome for golf at Linwood Country Club; Second place – Keith and Steve Stankiewicz and Liz and Jan Rupinsky won a foursome for golf at Stone Harbor Country Club; and third place went to Charlie Bowman, Sr. and Jr., Tom Oves and Greg Whelan who won a foursome to Twisted Dune Golf Club. Rich King won the “Beat the Pro” contest. A good time was had by all and everyone went home happy knowing they helped critically and terminally ill children’s dreams come true.
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