By Rob Potter
CALLICOON — August 31, 2004 – Although gray clouds filled the sky over the Villa Roma Country Club for much of the afternoon last Friday, no raindrops fell from those clouds.
And the 107 golfers competing in the Bob Rosen Memorial Pro-Am Golf Tournament sponsored by United Way of Sullivan County were certainly thankful for that.
The golfers were able to stay dry while playing 18 holes and helping to raise money for United Way of Sullivan County.
“We’ll make over $40,000 profit from today’s event,” said Linda Cellini, Chief Professional Officer of United Way of Sullivan County. “All of the money we raise stays right here in Sullivan County to benefit our Sullivan County programs.”
She was also very grateful to the Villa Roma for hosting the event.
“The Villa Roma is just wonderful,” Cellini said. “The whole staff is very accommodating.”
Cellini noted that the first United Way of Sullivan County golf tournament was held in 1992 and had a profit of $15,000.
This is the second year that the tournament has been named the Bob Rosen Memorial Pro-Am. It was renamed in honor of Rosen, who served as the chairman of the event for many years.
Pro and amateur golfers from around the Mid-Hudson region as well as Connecticut, Long Island and Pennsylvania participated in the event.
Pro golfers played for a $3,500 cash prize and the championship trophy. Amateur golfers competed for closest to the pin prizes on the second, seventh, 13th and 17th holes as well as a hole-in-one prize on the ninth hole – a 2004 Ford Explorer provided by the Braunstein Family of M&M Pontiac-Buick-Cadillac-Jeep-Eagle-Ford-Lincoln-Mercury of Liberty. The closest to the pin prizes were $50 gift certificates to four local restaurants: Bernie’s Holiday Restaurant in Rock Hill, Buona Fortuna Ristorante in Monticello, Manny’s Steakhouse & Seafood Restaurant in Liberty and Piccolo Paese Restaurant in Liberty.
The closest to the pin winners were Tom Guarino (seventh), Henry Hudson (17th), Melanie Kleiner (second) and Lucas Sirois (13th).
Jerry Impellittiere of New Windsor won the trophy and cash prize for professional golfers. Impellittiere, proprietor of Duffers Hideaway, a driving range in New Windsor, shot a 3-under par 68 to earn the win.
“I just hit the ball decently and stayed out of trouble,” he said. “I made four birdies. Basically, I played consistently and hit the greens.”
Impellittiere’s win was extra special for a couple of reasons. First, he finished second in this tournament two years ago. Secondly, his friends secretly arranged for his wife, Darlene, who recently took a job in the state of Florida, to fly back to the area Friday afternoon and attend the tournament.
“That was quite a surprise, to be playing the third hole and look up and see my wife,” he said.
John DeForest and Larry Rupp tied for second place among the pros as each shot a 69. Sirois was fourth with a 70, while Jim Doyle was fifth with a 71. Larry Furey and Peter Serafimoff tied for sixth place, with each golfer recording a 73.
The foursome of DeForest, Jim Klym, Mike Miller and Dennis Swauger earned the Low Gross prize with a 138.
The foursome of Serafimoff, Jeff Benchich, Jason Combes and Cody Valley won the Low Net prize with a 125.
Several golfers won prizes in a raffle during the awards dinner. Dozens of area businesses donated the prizes for the raffle.
At the end of the evening, Nathana Rosen spoke about the tournament that honors her late husband.
“Thank you to all of the golfers and volunteers for making this event so successful,” she said. “We hope to see all of you again next year.”