PCC’s 11th Annual Golf Classic

By Tino Marcal

The Portuguese Cultural Center’s 11th Annual Golf Classic, held June 6 at Richter Park, drew a record 230 participants. “Players keep coming back because they enjoy playing golf, and we offer them great food and prices,” said Angelo DaCunha, one of the event’s organizers. This year, there were two sections. The morning session opened with registration and coffee at 7 am, and a shotgun start at 8 am. The afternoon section began with an 11:30 am luncheon, which was followed by a 1:00 pm shotgun. Afterwards, everyone gathered in the main hall of the PCC at about 5:30 pm to enjoy some delicious Portuguese food prepared by Chef Miguel Francisco.

Winners of the 2007 11th Annual Golf Classic Tournament: Bill Turley,
Prasad Sureddi, Neil Schiff, missing from picture M. Flanagan

Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the PCC building fund. An event of this scope is only possible through the generous efforts of its many volunteers and the countless hours put in by the three main organizers - Joe Boa, Luis Tomas and Angelo DaCunha. Although the efficient organization makes the end result seem so smooth and simple, there is a tremendous amount of work, which begins from the time the golf course is booked, and continues until all the players are recruited along with the more than 100 sponsors that support the tournament.

All the hard work definitely paid off, however. “This year we are netting a profit of about $45,000. It is a one-day event that is great money for the PCC,” said DaCunha. Francisco Bahia, the PCC’s President-Elect, will assume his responsibilities on July 1, and hopes to use a portion of these funds to pay off some of the Center’s debt accrued during a financial crunch back in 2005.

11º Torneio Anual de Golfe do PCC

O 11º Torneio Anual de Golfe do Centro Cultural Português (PCC), realizado no dia 6 de junho no Richter Park, atraiu um número recorde de 230 participantes. “Golfistas sempre retornam porque gostam do esporte, e os preços e a comida que oferecemos são excelentes”, disse Angelo DaCunha, um dos organizadores do evento.

O torneio deste ano foi dividido em duas sessões. A sessão diurna iniciou com a inscrição dos participantes, seguida do café da manhã servido às 7h e a largada às 8h. A sessão da tarde iniciou com um almoço às 11h30 e a largada às 13h. Após o torneio, todos os participantes se reuniram no salão do PCC por volta das 17h30 para desfrutar de um delicioso jantar português preparado pelo Chefe Miguel Francisco.
A verba arrecadada no torneio beneficiará o fundo do Centro Cultural Português.

A realização de um evento desta proporção só é possível através do generoso trabalho de vários voluntários e inúmeras horas dedicadas pelos três principais organizadores - Joe Boa, Luis Tomas e Angelo DaCunha. Apesar da eficiência na organização proporcionar um resultado que parece ter sido fácil e simples de alcançar, o trabalho para realizar este torneio é tremendo iniciando do momento em que o campo de golfe é reservado, a inscrição dos golfistas e captação de mais de 100 patrocinadores que apóiam o torneio.

Mas o trabalho duro é definitivamente recompensado. “Este ano conseguimos arrecadar cerca de US$45 mil. É um evento de um dia que levanta um boa quantia em dinheiro para o PCC”, afirmou DaCunha. Francisco Bahia, presidente-eleito do Centro, assumirá seu cargo no dia 1º de julho e espera poder destinar parte desta verba para o pagamento de algumas dívidas do PCC acumuladas durante a crise financeira de 2005.

2007 PCC Scholarship Awards

* The fifth place high school award was presented in honor of Richard Dohan, by his wife and Manny Ribeiro. This award is funded jointly by Mrs. Dohan, Manny Ribeiro and Nela Ribeiro.
** A special award was presented in honor of Rui Miguel Caetano. This award is funded by his daughter, Natalie Caetano Ferreira and her husband, Micheal Ferreira.
*** The Santana Ventura Portuguese History Scholarship, created by Americo, Valentin, and Olga Ventura in memory of their parents, awards two prizes per year. In order to be eligible, students must submit a paper on a topic in Portuguese history.

Telmo Santos, Stephanie DeSousa, Diana Heitor, Nicholas DeSousa,
Cassandra Costa & Ryan Soares

Michelle Pimenta-Pires , Jessica Canhao, Gregory Hintz, Rosana Oliveira,
& Amanda Silverio (Vanessa Martins is not pictured)

High School Winners
1 - Telmo Santos Danbury High School $3,000
2 - Cassandra Costa Immaculate High School $2,500
3 - Nicholas DeSousa Immaculate High School $2,000
4 - Ryan Soares Immaculate High School $1,500
5 - Stephanie DeSousa* Danbury High School $1,000
Diana Heitor** Danbury High School $1,000

College Winners
1 - Amanda Silverio Yale $3,000
2 - Jessica Canhao Quinnipiac University $2,500
3 - Michele Pimenta-Pires University of Connecticut $2,000
4 - Rosano Oliveira University of Connecticut $1,500
5 - Vanessa Martins Lehigh University $1,000
Gregory Hintz*** LaFayetter College $1,500
Amanda Silverio*** Yale $1,500