With shaky hands, Dan Mesa took the golf ball and placed it on
putting green like he did numerous times before with his grandson
Matt Lopez.
With shaky hands, Dan Mesa took the golf ball and placed it on putting green like he did numerous times before with his grandson Matt Lopez.
He lined it up and read the break just like he had taught his grandson to do. As more than 100 family and friends watched with respectful admiration, he took the shot. It was a foot wide of the hole, but it was kicked in by Matt’s aunt Dianne Mesa.
It was only fitting that Mesa make the ceremonial first putt during the Matt Lopez Memorial Golf Tournament Friday at San Juan Oaks Golf Club.
It was Mesa that first got his grandson into golf five years ago and helped him to get a job at San Juan Oaks, where worked first with the carts then moved up to work in the pro shop.
The two golfers shared many memories on the links together before Lopez was killed in a tragic car accident in December.
Although Mesa is more than triple the age of his grandson, the age gap disappeared when they were on the course.
When asked what his favorite memory was, Mesa responded “Just playing with him. I enjoyed the company. Every day out was great. We had a lot of fun.”
The two golfers played in tournaments together in Arizona and in southern California until Mesa’s cancer prevented him from going out any more.
“He always had a putter or club in his hand,” said Matt’s uncle Dave. “Matt and my dad used to go up to San Jose to a golf shop. My dad would always buy clubs and stuff for him.”
Before the golfer’s teed off Matt’s dad recalled taking his son to T-Ball and then later to Majors games.
“It’s been tough times the past 10 months,” he told the golfers gathered for the event. “But with people like you who’ve supported us, we’ve been able to get through.”
There were 126 golfers signed up, and about 200 people attended the dinner in the evening. The family was expecting 72 golfers and were amazed at the amount of interest they received. They even had to turn golfers away. Family members estimate the event raised more than $7,000. The money goes for scholarships for local athletes.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the support,” his mom Laura said. “We weren’t expecting this many. The community has been great.”
About 40 merchants in the area responded by donating raffle gifts valued between $2-3 thousand dollars.
The Lopezes even had family come down from Oregon for the event.
A team of San Benito High girls golf team members took off the afternoon from school to play in the event. Corryn Pacheco, Ashley Cullumber, Allison Thomas and Daniel Shelton represented the Haybalers.
“It was great to be able to come out here,” Thomas said. “The coach and captains suggested it. It was a good idea.”
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Shelton said before teeing off. “It’s a good opportunity to practice.”
Ridgemark head pro Mitch Thomas also took the day off to commemorate a former golfer of his.
“It is great to be out here,” Thomas said, “I coached him for three years, and he always had a smile on his face.”
Low gross champions (58)
John Dempsey, Daniel Rivera, Ian Hudson, Daniel Alvarez, Richard Rivera
Low net champions (39)
Tom Gonzales, Ed Ordonez, Ed Ordonez Jr. Roy Navarro 2nd (39)
2nd (39)
Manny Freitas, Andrew Braddock, Imer Hernandez, Mike Strand
3rd (40)
Len Foster, John Snider, Wayne Clark, Sid Smith
4th (41)
Bob Breene, Bob Denton, Fernando Jimenez, Arnie Hummel
5th (41)
Mitch Thomas, Alan Brookshire, Kyle Thomas, Mike Ostoja
6th (43)
Eric Lopez, John Shioya, Jason Shioya, Kosh Shioya
Longest drive (No. 17)
Ryan Alnas (male) Corryn Pacheco (female)
Closest to the pin (No. 8)
Bob Rowland 2’2″
Closest to the pin (No. 16)
Dimas Albert 1′ 5 1/2″
