Golfers enjoy casual competition at San Benito County Farm
Bureau Golf Tournament
Hollister – Some good golf, sunny skies and a fun time for all. The 15th annual San Benito County Farm Bureau Golf Tournament left a bunch of smiling faces as golfers came off the Diablo Course at Ridgemark Golf & Country Club Wednesday.
“A fantastic time, great companionship,” said Mike Hitchcock, whose SECO Packing foursome took third place in the lowest net score competition of the scramble tournament.
“Just the overall nice atmosphere,” Bill Bell said when asked what he enjoyed most about the day. “Good friends, good weather.”
Bell and State Fund teammates Carl Oberbauer, Mike Suess and Jeff Kane took first place among the 28 groups with a net score of 52.1. Another State Fund foursome – Ricardo Vallejo, Art Castro, Tristan Robledo and Tony Seguerra – came in second at 52.7.
The lowest gross score of the scramble – a competition in which all team members hit, take the best ball and then all hit from there again, and so on – came from the Fortino’s Total Home foursome. Mike Graves, Pat Turturici, Phil Fortino and Rick Giacomazzi carded a 58 on the par-72 course.
Dan Sites, playing for a Tanimura & Antle foursome, and Kathy Dassel of Team Botelho won the men’s and women’s longest drive competitions, respectively.
Mike Gonzales, Shane Breschini and Shawn Kuchta teamed with Hitchcock in the SECO Packing group to post a net score of 56.0.
Tournament proceeds go mainly to benefiting the next generation of agricultural community.
“What we’re very excited about is trying to support agricultural youth of the community, making sure we can award scholarships,” said Richard Silva, Second Vice President of the Farm Bureau. “We want to be sure we can contribute to the youth.”
The golfers were happy to be out playing on a gorgeous day, taking the opportunity to mingle with colleagues and build relationships within the community.
“Just a little golf. Day off from work. It’s pretty nice,” said Craig Dobler, playing for the Holaday Seed Co. team. “It’s more business, I think. Business event. If it was all golf, I probably wouldn’t be here. It’s more of the relationships, meeting people.”
Added Mark Moreno of Moreno Petroleum: “What made me want to come out here today was to have a good time, spend some time with my fellow people.”
Caron Fahs, competing on one of State Fund’s five teams, spoke of “meeting people that you talk to on the phone, but don’t really get to know.”
Teammate Christine Valenti continued: “Different businesses, different owners. There are some of our brokers who come out, so it’s nice to talk to them.”
But most of all, the golfers said they were just out to enjoy the day on the course.
“I just love to play golf,” Fahs said. “I’m not very good at it, but I love to play. I actually don’t even care what my score is when I’m done. It’s all about fun.”
