ERMA – For the third consecutive year, the Atlantic Cape Community College Foundation’s Annual Scramble ‘FORE’ Scholarships Golf Tournament raised a record amount to benefit students and scholarships on October 13 at Cape May National Golf Club in Erma, NJ. The $71,500 amount topped last year’s total of $67,235 by more than $4,000.
“The Atlantic Cape Foundation is so thankful for the generosity from our sponsors and supporters, both new and returning,” said Atlantic Cape Foundation Executive Director Jean McAlister. “We would also like to thank Bob Mullock, his family and Cape May National Golf Club for helping us to promote the Foundation and raise critical funds that will benefit student scholarships.”
Prior to the official start of the event, golfers flexed their muscles on the driving range, renewed pleasantries with acquaintances and entered into drawings for various prizes and a 50/50.
Peter DeStefano, a native of Brick, NJ, employee at SOSH Architects in Atlantic City and current MBA student at Stockton University, and his friend, Brian Edwards, a native of Toms River, NJ and member of the U.S. Coast Guard at Bayonne, NJ Station, awaited the start of the event while relaxing at their golf cart.
“We are here to help support the giving of scholarships, support the cause and enjoy the weather too,” DeStefano said.
More than 130 golfers took to the 18-hole course to test their driving, chipping and putting skills. Jim Ridgway and Alicia Trombley won their respective men’s and women’s longest drive contest. Dave Grandrino was the putting contest winner and several participants won the chipping contest by adeptly hitting the rowboat tethered in the pond. The eighth hole, once again this year, featured a Hole-in-One $25,000 cash prize contest, while the 13th hole offered a Myrtle Beach Golf Trip prize package in a $10-per-ticket Hole-in-One contest.
“I thank you for coming out and we are fortunate to have such a beautiful day here at the Cape May National Golf course to support our students. We are always very happy to come here,” Atlantic Cape President Dr. Barbara Gaba said during her opening remarks. “I would like to thank Bob Mullock and the entire Mullock family who have been great supporters of the college and the foundation. We appreciate everything that you have done. Your work with our foundation and the Cape May County community is very inspiring. Thank you for supporting this event year-after-year.”
Mullock, Cape May National Golf Club’s President/Co-Designer, spoke to the importance of collaborating with Atlantic Cape to help local college students achieve their academic dreams.
“We have a great relationship with Atlantic Cape and we are thrilled to be doing this for nearly 20 years now. Over the years, I have received so many thank you cards and you realize how important these scholarships are to these students who many otherwise have not gone to college,” Mullock said.
At the end of the day, more than 20 prizes were raffled off and tournament winners were recognized as well. The team of Nels Johnson/Jordan Steifel/Zeb Taylor/Jimmy Kleb finished first overall. Meanwhile, golfers were treated to a delicious barbecue sit-down dinner provided by S&H Southern Cuisine complete with barbecue chicken wings, breasts and legs, flounder and tasty sides including baked beans, mac & cheese and coleslaw.
Manning the smoker, named “The Beast,” with his nephew, Ronnie Hayes, was S&H Southern Cuisine owner and Atlantic Cape graduate, Daniel Auld, a Whitesboro native and owner/operator of four food trucks in Cape May County. Auld, who named his business after his deceased parents, Sarah and Harvey, overcame his own personal trials and tribulations to carve out a positive niche for himself, his family and the youth in his community.
“My story, it’s like many, is I came from the background of the drug, alcohol and gang lifestyle and you know, by the grace above, I made a choice 17 years ago to educate myself, to give myself a different way, a different journey, and to give back to the children of the community” Auld said. “So, ever since then I have been working with Middle Township police and other organizations to try and help steer the young people in the right direction.”
Auld thanked Atlantic Cape’s Advancement Database Manager Suzanne Haggerty for helping him find his way academically when he went back to school in 2010.
“When I went to Atlantic Cape and met Suzanne, I didn’t even know how to use a computer or what an email or Facebook was. So, she literally taught me the basics of how to use a computer,” Auld admitted.
Since the annual golf tournament’s debut in 2006, more than $736,000 has been raised for students thanks to the continued support of dedicated Atlantic and Cape May county businesses and residents.
The 2023 scholarship recipients include Patricia Braun, Andrea Cruz, Jennifer De La Cruz, Lexi Dolby, Angela Dominguez, Lauren Farschon, Kaitlin Frazier, Andreea Gherendi, Arianna Gjerazi, Michaela Graham, Lafutima Jones, Juliet King, Olga Kurkowska, Charlene Maycott, Lucy McDowell, Jennifer Milano, Hector Padilla, Tara Petrosh, Sarah Rivera, Ravina Shah, Hannah Showalter, and Olivia Sommers.
To see a full list of the 2023 tournament sponsors, visit atlantic.edu/golf. To see photos from the 2023 event, visit https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAYKuA
