18ers play in “Pretty in Pink” Invitational
The Rossmoor Women’s 18ers had a very special 25th annual Invitational on June 15th with members and guests totaling 112 players. Mary Hufford ran the event with the assistance of several 18ers: Janet Kinney, Carole Geoghegan, Jennifer Langan, Gail Ramirez, Mitzi Weinberg and Peggy Yamada. Arriving guest players were greeted by Frank Quallen’s team of Ambassadors of the RMGC who shuttled golf bags from the Event Center parking lot over to the assigned golf carts near the Pro Shop.
Following a breakfast buffet catered by Scott’s restaurant at tables decorated with floral centerpieces including pink golf balls and tees, players had their team photos taken by Janet Kinney and then they warmed up on the driving range with complimentary range balls and finally headed out into the bright sunny morning to begin their round at 8:30. Temperatures rose into the high 80s, so at the end of play everyone was grateful to return to the air-conditioned Event Center for the lunch and awards portion of the day.
Geoghegan, who was in charge of decorations, outdid herself with the beautiful floral centerpieces at breakfast, featuring hand-painted pink golf balls and tees. The luncheon decorations were also lovely with bouquets of black and pink and speckled white balloons atop a black tablecloth with pink dinner napkins for an extra special touch. Janet Kinney’s photographs, which were taken in the morning of all the foursomes in their pretty pink attire, had been printed by lunchtime and were placed in clear frames at each place setting for players to take home.
Scott’s again catered the event, serving a garden salad, an entrée of salmon and parmesan-crusted chicken with mashed potatoes and vegetables, followed by a lovely chocolate mousse for dessert. Bartenders Michael Oakey and Earl Reeve served beer and wine with great panache, and Oakey also contributed by creating the floral tee markers at each hole on the course.
Mark Heptig and Chris Anders from the Pro Shop helped run the tournament and Heptig announced the winners at lunch while Anders helped hand out the prizes. Several sponsors of the event made for a very special day. Atria Senior Living, Byron Park, Combination Lock & Safe, Comcast, Mike’s Autobody, Reverse Mortgage Group, Rossmoor Realty and Walnut Creek Honda all contributed. With the generous contributions of so many sponsors, every player won something, even those in last place for their flight. First-place winners received $50 each, second-place winners received $40, third-place winners received $30, fourth-place winners received $25, fifth-place winners received $20, and sixth-place and seventh-place players each received a sleeve of golf balls.
The format was two best balls of four, and the winners of the four flights were:
First Flight: 18ers Olivia Hsueh and Soonee Kim with their guests Yong Choo and Anne Su.
Second Flight: 18ers Pil Choo and Joanne Kim with their guests Jennifer Kim and Jenny Park.
Third Flight: 18ers Garnet Shelly and Helen Chung with their guests Myong Jarvis and Julia Leng.
Fourth Flight: 18er Teddi Swanson with her guests Susan Chipman, Francine Lyall and Judy Miller.
There were four holes where closest-to-the-hole prizes were awarded and the member and guest winners for those were:
Hole 2: 18er Joanne Kim and guest winner Joan Tasker. Walnut Creek Honda, who was sponsoring that hole, also awarded Tasker an extra prize of a complete auto detailing for being the closest.
Hole 4: 18er Chong Harney and guest winner Carol Cavagnaro.
Hole 14: 18er Pil Choo and guest winner Julia Leng.
Hole 16: 18er Darlene Martel and guest winner Eden Anderson.
Many kudos go to Hufford for putting together such a beautiful and well-run invitational. Everyone was very pleased with their quilted white-and-pink long-sleeved jackets as tee prizes, and the decorations were especially outstanding.