Her-icane Golf Challenge a blast
by Kevin Cassidy
islander Correspondent
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Mary Grace Cucci dribbles out from the goal during soccer tryouts at the Center. islander Photo: Becky Walter |
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Gary Harkness, Manatee High junior varsity coach Jeff Nelson and Ralph Faillace show off their new ball retrievers for being the "most honest" golfers during the Her-icane Golf Challenge. Not pictured from their foursome, Richard Nelson. islander photo: MHS senior soccer forward Emily Argeros |
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Tori Walter demonstrates her soccer kick as Hannah McCracken, Christian Daniels and Rory Welch wait their turn during soccer tryouts at the Anna Maria Island Community Center. islander Photo: Becky Walter |
The fourth-annual Her-icane Golf Challenge, played Sept. 6 at the Bradenton Country Club, went off without a hitch. Tropical storm Hanna stayed to the east, while Hurricane Ike held off in the Atlantic to give the Her-icane Golf Challenge perfect weather for the annual fundraiser that benefits the Manatee High girl’s soccer program.
The team of Mike Gronow, Dave Williams, Rich Hubbard and Kurt Kieninger combined to shoot a 15-under-par 56 to win the tournament for the third time in the four years of the fundraiser. Second place went to the team of Neil Halfacre, Steve Allen, Larry Watterman Jr. and Larry Watterman Sr. with a score of 14-under 57. Jeff Watts, Zach Walker, Wayne Johnson and Bob Lecters finished in third place with a 59.
Most honest golfers went to Her-icane junior varsity coach Jeff Nelson, his father Richard, Ralph Faillace and Gary Harkness with a 2-over-par 73.
Harkness won closest-to-the-pin on hole 16, while Larry Watterman Jr. captured the closest-to-the-pin contest on hole two. Greg Koeper won the straightest-drive contest.
This writer, along with Ed Conk, David Case and Jake Christian, managed an 11-under-par 60, but that wasn’t nearly good enough on what was a really good day for golf.
A big thanks to MHS soccer players Jamie Cross, Tina Papazian, Tristin Hoffman-Young and Sandra Montalvo for their help checking in golfers in the morning.
Many thanks also to MHS soccer teammates Emily Argeros, Molly Knight, Eliza Faillace and incoming freshman Meredith Argeros, who handled the mic with aplomb during the awards ceremony.
Last, but not least, a huge thank you goes out to all of the businesses that donated prizes and to the friends and family members that played in the tournament from the team and the coaches, including myself.
Center holds soccer tryouts
The Anna Maria Island Community Center’s fall recreational soccer season is just around the corner. Tryouts were held Sept. 2-5.
Players were put through an array of drills and exercises, while coaches carefully took notes in order to pick their teams at the end of the tryout sessions. All kids were placed on a team, but, for league parity, the coaches participate in a draft to pick their players.
The season will kick off in a few weeks as players will now hit the practice fields with their coaches to hone their team’s skills. Look for league schedules and game results in The islander in the weeks to come.
Key Royale golf news
The women of the Key Royale Club tested out the newly renovated greens at the Key Royale Club golf course on Sept. 2, playing a low-net game and looking for the fewest shots from tee to green.
Lois Biel captured first flight honors with a 1-under-par 31, while Joyce Reith finished in second at 1-over 33. Third place was shared by Joyce Brown and Tootie Wagner, who both carded a 35.
Sylvia Price fired an even-par 32 to take flight two honors, while Linda Kelly, Meredith Slavin, Lorraine Towne and Shirley Cessna each carded 35 to tie for second place.
The lowest number of shots tee to green went to Lois Biel with 27. Diane Miller and Tootie Wagner tied for second with 28 shots. |