The Spanish American Club, Inc. (SACI) Holds Golf Tournament Fundraiser for Scholarship

By Herman Santa

On October 9, 2023, The Spanish American Club, Inc. held a golf tournament charity event at The Saints Golf Course in Port St. Lucie for the scholarship, the oldest and only social, civic and sport non-for-profit club in the Treasure Coast.

Members of the SACI and their friends’ sponsors supported the event by sponsoring golf holes, making donations and buying raffle tickets.  The 2 men scramble event chaired by Herman Santa, Gus Migliore and Cecil Elie featured several activities, including “The Longest Drives”, “Closest to the Pins” “Low Scores”, “50/50 raffle” door prizes.  Golfers enjoyed a beautiful day and camaraderie, which concluded at the Saints Pub restaurant with awards and raffles.

The SACI could not have held this fundraiser without the help of the golfers among them Chris Antrim, John Bartolotta, Gary Bartz, John Boals, Bob Boals, Carlos Bonet, Gary Bradley, Frank Camacho, Dan Camilli, Matt Carpen, Val Coelho, Junior Colón, Cecil Elie, Scott Engle, Iggy Fernandez, Mike Finkelstein, Frank Garcia, Walter Gomez, Tony Guerrero, Joe Mack, Mike Perkins, Bob Pilla, Ted Piorkowski, Rod Roig, Herman Santa, Neil Scheer, Chuck Shoemaker, Tom St. Pierre, David Timm, Mike Touhey, Otto Vega, Max Verastegui and George Williams.

Closest to the Pin winners Tim Bland, Hole #3 (1^st) 2′- 8″, Ray Guadalupe, Hole #7 (1^st), 4′-5″, Hole # 3 (2^nd), Brian Weber Hole # 7 (2^nd) 35’- 00”. Longest Drive winners Richie Torres, Hole # 9 (1^st), 229′ and Rich Buchanan, Hole # 9 (2^nd), 232′. Low Scores Jorge Crespo and Rick Buchanan 54.5. 50/50 Raffle winner David Timm. Door prize winners Bobby Arroyo, 1 box of golf balls, David Timm, 1 box of golf balls and 1 round of golf at the Saints and Herman Santa, 1 hour golf lesson from Arlen Bento Jr. Most Improved Player of the Year Lou Rangel, 1/2-hour golf lesson from David O’Kelly.

Special thanks to our sponsors Linda Bartz, St. Lucie County Commissioner, Michelle Frankin, Property Appraisals’ Office, David O’Kelly, Manager of The Saints Pro Shop, Francisco J. Garcia, Esq. of Garcia Law, PL, Gustavo Santa, Ft Pierce Bando, Arlen Bento Jr. Golf instructor and Bern Ryan from Saints Pub.

A big Thank You to the ladies of the board of the club among them Pam Peña, Vivian Megaro, Josie Guadalupe and Evelyn Carrillo who came to support our tournament with goodie bags for the players and to the golf committee Gus Migliore and Cecil Elie and last but not the least Lou Rosa who came to assist us.

All funds raised at the event will help the club’s scholarship funds for next year graduating high school seniors of Martin and St. Lucie counties. The Spanish American Club, Inc. of Port St. Lucie is a not-for-profit charitable organization was founded in 1992. The mission of the club is to promote friendship and solidarity among its members and other nonprofit organizations throughout the Treasure Coast through cultural, social, civic and sport activities; to promote knowledge of all Spanish speaking countries, their geography, history, art, and folklore.

Future events of the club this year: Saturday, October 28th” Halloween Dance”; Saturday, November 25th “Thanksgiving Dance”; Sunday, December 2nd “Bowling Christmas Dinner” and Saturday, December 14th “Christmas Dinner/Dance”.

For more information or to become part of the golf group contact Herman Santa by email: hermansanta@comcast.net.