At 12:50 AM on a sultry Friday afternoon in early October (following a "hurricane delay" from Frances which postponed the event from September 3rd) 72 Orlando-area Sigs and their guests heard warm words of encouragement from Director of Golf, Jim Keane, as he spelled out the rules of play. With the whirring of golf cart engines, the band of golfers sped off for a shotgun start – with a corps of Concierge Caddies and assorted hangers on – to tame one of “The Shark’s” latest tests of golf – the 7,122-yard, Par 72 course at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Grande Lakes, Orlando’s brand new luxury resort. CFAC’s 2nd Annual “Puttin’ on the Ritz for Kids” Charity Golf Tournament to benefit Sigma Chi’s recommended philanthropy, The Children’s Miracle Network, was well and truly under way.
“The Shark”, Australian native and Florida resident Greg Norman, designed a course that weaves through Shingle Creek, the headwaters of Florida’s Everglades. Past sunning gators and preening egrets our band of golfers slashed their way across Central Florida’s newest course – mindful of the course record of 64 set the year before by none other than Tiger Woods.
Some 187 drink coupons later, we had a winner. In fact, we had several as announced by Master of Ceremonies and Central Florida Alumni Chapter President, Michael Drew. Taking top honors in the scramble format was the foursome from E Brands which included: Charly Robinson, Robin Stotter, Adrienne Wadey and Joe Younis. The runner-up foursome was the Team branded "The Six-Footer", consisting of Chris Casconi, Orion Corcilius, Jack Hartley and Mark Weinberg. Third place honors went to Team Dixon made up of Bob Dixon, Mike Fallon, Don Griffin and Sam Butler. Winner of the longest drive was Bob Reese on the 9th hole, and Jacy Williams took the prize for closest to the pin on Number 17.
Back at The Ritz-Carlton Clubhouse, where a cocktail reception refreshed the participants, there were even more winners. Every player won a Raffle Prize. Some 50 free nights of accommodation at various Ritz-Carltons and Marriott lodgings across the country were picked up in a Silent Auction – thanks especially to the efforts of Brother Mike Wainwright, Director of Hotel Sales at the Orlando World Center Marriott.
The most important winners, however, were the Kids of CMN – the 250,000 children served each year by Orlando’s two area CMN-affiliated hospitals: The Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida and Arnold Palmer’s Hospital for Children and Women. Alicia Jakubcin, CMN Events Manager, was on hand to receive a check for $20,000 as the Tournament’s contribution to CMN for 2004.
Special recognition and thanks go to the tournament’s organizing committee, and especially its Chairman, Karl Palvisak (who was called away once again for a last-minute business trip), and his Committee Chairmen, David Lawton, Alan Fidelo, Michael Drew, John Harper, Joe Hartman, Noel Keller, and P. J. Stephens.
Congratulations to all this year’s winners, and thanks to all our
Tournament Players and Sponsors for their generous support. We look forward
to welcoming you all to the 3rd Annual “Puttin’ on the Ritz for Kids”
Tournament in 2005!
Re-scheduled for Friday, October 1st
