Since San Benito high graduate Matt Lopez passed away in a car
accident last December, the community has rallied around the
family, offering words of encouragement and contributing
monetarily.
Hollister – Since San Benito high graduate Matt Lopez passed away in a car accident last December, the community has rallied around the family, offering words of encouragement and contributing monetarily.
The family wanted to do something in his honor and to be able to help other people.
Last year, they were able to give out three $1,000 scholarship to worthy San Benito High graduates. The San Juan Oaks Foundation also gave out a scholarship for $2,000.
“Matt was a very special young man who could put a smile on anyone’s face with his cheerfulness and enthusiasm, and he is dearly missed,” Laura said. “Matt loved the sport, and we are doing it in his honor to memorializing. It was something we could do for him.”
On Oct. 22, the family will be holding the first Matt Lopez Memorial Golf Tournament at San Juan Oaks Golf Course. It has already received a lot of interest from local sponsors and golfers, but there are still openings.
“We had wonderful response as far as the sponsorships is concerned,” said Matt’s mother Laura. “We’re belated with the response. We have a lot of family and friends playing.”
The Lopezes said they to have 72 players in the tournament but will take as many players want to sign up.
San Juan Oaks General Manager Scott Fuller said the golf course was happy to help out because Lopez’s contributions on the San Juan Oaks golf operations staff during the almost two years he was there.
“”We miss him and are pleased that the Lopez family wanted to establish this golf event in his honor”,” said Fuller of the 2003 graduate. “He was a very good worker and was well liked by the other employees.”
There are currently a few former Baler golfers who have signed up to play.
Players and former San Benito High golfers will be paired up by year and will compete for bragging rights to see which year has the best golfers. Or two players can combine from two different years.
But that is just a small part of the tournament, and all golfers are welcome. There will be hole-in-one, closest to the pin and longest drive contests.
One of our goals is to keep this tournament going along as we can get full participation,” Laura said.
Anyone who is interested in playing in the tournament or contributing to the Matt Lopez Scholarship Fund can call the Lopezes at 637-6393 or send payment c/o P.O. Box 1065, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045-1065.
