St. Vincent’s 23rd Annual Golf Classic at the Montecito Club

Monday, October 7, saw the 23^rd Annual St. Vincent’s Santa Barbara Golf Classic at the Montecito Club. This charity tournament supports single mothers and their young children in the Family Strengthening Program. 

Bill Cordero Sr. is one of its founders, and Event Chair for the past 12 years. His dedication to St. Vincent’s began with his mother and father, both orphans, who met at the organization’s home for children. 

The 23^rd Annual Golf Classic featured 20 teams with 80 players competing for grand prizes in over five categories. The event commenced at 10 am with registration, raffle ticket sales, brunch, getting massaged at the Stretch Lab booth, and a chance to show those golf skills at the putting Hole-in-One contest to win $25,000 cash. 

In charge of the putting elimination contest was event emcee Drew Wakefield. Everyone had a free chance at the first hole-in-one. If they were successful, it only cost $5 per try to do the second hole-in-one to qualify for the final round competition. As the tryouts wound down, there were six golfers who went for the final round of qualifying holes-in-one, down to one golfer, Paul Cashman, who tried his best for the $25,000, 60 foot putt. His golf ball was close but not in the hole.

At 11:45 am the golf teams got in their assigned golf carts for a brief morning program. St. Vincent’s President and CEO Rosa Paredes welcomed the golfers and thanked them for their continued support of St. Vincent’s programs. She introduced and thanked Cordero and his wife Linda Tennyson, son Bill Cordero Jr., Sally Valpredo,and her nephew David Martin and niece Connor Limont representing the Sarah Lee Pascoe Foundation.

There was a touching and candid share by one of the single mothers who graduated from the St. Vincent’s Family Strengthening program and is now working there helping other single mothers. The blessing was led by Sr. Arthur Gordon. After the rules were reviewed by the Montecito Club, the golf teams drove off for the 18-Hole competition at the club’s Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course from 12 pm to 4:45 pm. 

Upon return, the golf teams met up with their families for a full-on Mexican buffet dinner. Raffle winners and silent auction winners announced. Wakefield emceed the golf competition winners, who each received a gift basket with wine. 

Award Categories

and Winners:

Closest to the pin on holes: Shereef Moharram, Dallas Haun, Erica Kanca, Asaka Knight Sim, and Darrel Mayeux

Longest Drive Women: Asaka Knight Sim

Longest Drive Men: Dallas Haun

First Place Women: Sandy Boneck, Asaka Knight Sim, PK, Linda Tennyson

First Place Net: Nolan Nicholson, Jeff Spinelli, Dave Hay, Dallas Haun

First Place Gross: Bhavik Patel, Mike Valpredo, Mike Casazza, Colby Lewis

60-foot Putting Finalist: Paul Cashman

Honored at the event for their dedication and continued support were Cordero, who was presented with the naming of a pine tree after him at St. Vincent’s Legacy Community Garden, and Sally Valpredo by the children at St. Vincent’s Children Center, who made decorative stepping stones for Valpredo’s garden.

The sponsors and in-kind gifts included presenting sponsor Sarah Lee Pascoe Foundation, Ann Jackson Family Foundation, Caruso’s, Lucky’s Restaurant, Tre Lune Restaurant, Bettina, Montecito Barbers, Brander Winery & Vineyard, Condor Express, The Ritz-Carlton, SB Polo & Racket Club, David and Louise Borgatello, American Riviera Bank, Bako Sweet, CMG Home Loans, Community West Bank, Cordero Painting Company, Cordero Real Estate, Cox Communications, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Lash Construction, Montesano Group Inc, Paul Cashman State Farm Insurance, Taylor Farms, and The NewtMont Foundation.

411: To learn more and donate – www.stvincents-sb.org/donate