St. Louis Rotary Golf League Report
Sunset CC – October 8, 2024 | Cris Conner
Rotary Golf League
Sunset CC- October 8th, 2024
SEASON FINALE
26 golfers descended upon Sunset Country Club on a perfect day for our last outing of the 2024 Rotary Golf season, and the much anticipated annual Awards dinner.
Our hosts were Matt Wilson, Bob Bauer and Cris Conner.
Golfing guest Mitch Sarandos, nephew of Kent Steinbrueck, was in attendance, along with special dinner guests “Monsignor” Jay Ryan, who delivered a lovely and thought provoking invocation, and Buzz & Joyce Gerber. Buzz was the 2023 recipient of the Bob Kocher Fellowship Award.
After enjoying an elegant surf and turf dinner prepared and served by the excellent Sunset staff, the Awards Ceremonies commenced, emceed by outgoing President Cris Conner.
Winners and highlights for this outing:
Closest to the pin hole #13
1st place: Ken Schuman: 8’-9”. This shot will have a major impact, as you will soon read.
2nd place: Cris Conner- 13’-6”
3rd place: Drew Baebler: 22’-4”
Longest drive- Red Tees: Bob Zangas
Longest drive- Red/Blue Tees: Jim Bernardini
Longest drive- Blue Tees: Adam McNutt hit a scorching drive that seemed sure to hold up, but Derrick “Wendell” Wendling pasted one 20 yards past Adam to take the honors.
Individual winners:
B flight
1st place: Rick Tinucci 99/72
2nd place: Bob Zangas 101/77
3rd place: Bob Kocher 117/82
A flight
1st place: Bob Bauer 92/76
2nd place: Ken Schuman 96/77
3rd place: Earl Poe 95/78
Championship flight
1st place: Cris Conner 88/71 Low net score of the day
2nd place: Jim Bernardini 84/73
3rd place: Mike Regan 82/74
Team winners:
In First place, with a highly scrutinized and dubious score of 121, earning them $40 each, the team of Poe/Bauer/Weistreich/Conner (blind draw)
Second place, three strokes back at 124, and increasing their net worth by $30 each, was the team of McNutt/Zangas/Cady/Tinucci
In Third place, carding a 126, was the team of Conner/Wendling/Kalde/Garagiola (blind draw). These guys trousered $20 each.
SEASON AWARDS
Championship Flight– for like the 17th time, Steve “Crash” LaFara takes home the LaFara Trophy. Who saw that coming??? Steve had to hold off contenders Blake Critzas and Drew Baebler, who finished just 15 and 10 points behind Crash.
A Flight– a hotly contested finish between Earl Poe and Ken Schuman! Earl started the day with 200 points; with Ken right on his heels with 180 points. On the strength of his 2nd place finish in the A flight, and his Closest to the Pin on #13, Ken captures the A Flight trophy by 5 points! What a finish! Congratulations Ken!
B Flight- enjoying a great season and finishing strong was B Flight winner Doc Jones, who coasted to a 45 point win. He was so far ahead that he won his flight from Florida.
Most Improved Player- for sharpening his handicap by 3%, Ryan Whittington takes home the George Krieger Memorial Trophy for Most Improved Player.
Kocher Award for Fellowship– For his unending support to the League Presidents (two of whom lack the most basic of computer skills), as well as his all-around wonderful disposition, Terry Werner was presented with this very meaningful recognition. Thank you Terry, for all you do, and for just being you!
Inscription from the Kocher Fellowship Award: “This award is given annually to a Rotary Golf League member that personifies the fellowship and camaraderie among league members, has respect and affinity for the game of golf, and has made significant contributions toward the success and the continuity of the Rotary Golf League”
The Close of the Evening (and the 2024 Season):
Outgoing President Cris Conner thanked fellow Presidents Adam McNutt and Jack Windish for their work this year. Accolades were also bestowed on long-time Treasurer Earl Poe for his dedicated and continuing service. We couldn’t make this League work without these guys!
Conner also announced, accompanied by a round of hearty applause, that Jim Bernardini has stepped up as a RGL President for the 2025 season. Jim “Feel the Burn” Bernardini is an excellent fit for this position, and was actively recruited (some might even say blackmailed).
Thank you Jim!
Much of the group then retired to the new fire ring for post-dinner cocktails and cigars. Somehow the conversation wandered into a discussion about bidets. Nothing else to report from that, since very little of it was suitable for a fine publication like The Pepperbox.
Thanks to all of our Rotary Golf League Members and Presidents for a fabulous 2024!
Cris Conner