Par excellence!

That’s the rating everyone heaped upon last Friday’s fun-filled Rhode Island State Elks Golf Tournament that brought a sold out field to storied Cranston Country Club.

However, the 18-hole event was much more than just a scramble scoring session.

It was, as Raye Fucito, Lucy Fontaine, Cynthia Dean, Lesley Halleck and Patti Baccus will attest, a memorial played in honor of the late Stephen P. Dean, a highly-popular member of West Warwick Lodge 1697 who founded the unique tourney more than a decade ago.

“Everybody loved Steve,” Richard Michaud, a member of West Warwick Lodge 1697 who served with those listed above as greeters and the valuable registration committee, said. “That’s why we’re playing this tournament in his memory.”

And the late Dean, as many golfers concurred, “must have been smiling as he looked down upon us today; we couldn’t have asked for better weather or a sellout.”

That became even more apparent when Peter Fucito, a past District Deputy who was voted the unofficial winner of the Payne Stewart look-a-like golfer, announced that “our tournament today raised over $4,000 and that’s something that Stephen (Dean) would be proud of.”

Add to that that the winning foursome – which included the late Dean’s son Aaron and family members Peter Dean, Larry Dean and Matt Dean – that $4,000 will go a long way in helping the Rhode Island State Elks Association uphold its credo: “Elks Care, Elks Share.”

“These funds will be used for our scholarships, youth and community outreach programs as well as our veterans,” Fucito added. “Only through the generosity of our members, our golfers and Tee Box sponsors can we continue to do charitable work throughout the state.”

Fucito added: “Stephen Dean would be proud of what on here today; we continued his legacy that began when he started this tournament back in 2006. We have to thank each and every Elk and our friends who helped make this a special success.”

Meanwhile, Tom Dion of Lodge 1697 won closest to the pin for men, as he came within 5-feet, 4-inhes of the hole. Women’s honors went to Edna DeCesare, was exactly one foot closer to the pin than Dion's shot.

Longest drive honors went to Neil Curlett for men age 50 and under; Paul Satterfield, ages 50-50; Dion, ages 60 and over; and Nancy Steinmeyer among the ladies.

As many people told the organizing committee Friday, “this was par excellence so please, save us a playing spot in next year’s Stephen P. Dean Memorial-RISE Golf Tournament.”

Cutlines for pix on sheets slugged 0-5-14-18 927

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VALUABLE VOLS:

Among those Elks who helped make last Friday’s Stephen P. Dean Memorial-RISE Golf Tournament an overwhelming success were: seated from left: Raye Fucito, Lucy Fontaine and Cynthia Dean. Standing: Lesley Halleck, Richard Michaud and Patti Baccus. (Cranston Herald photos by Pete Fontaine) GOLF 2 IMG 4120

MEMORIAL MEN:

Members of the Dean family, headed by Aaron Dean (third left) whose father Stephen founded the RISE Golf Tournament in 2006, staked claimed to the title in last Friday’s event. The foursome includes Peter Dean, Larry Dean and Mat Dean.

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NAVY NICHE:

This foursome was made up of Navy veterans Allen Hall, Ginny Hanson, Jamie Geodes and Chairman Peter Fucito and was part of the sold out field that enjoyed the annual Rhode Island State Elks Golf Tournament at Cranston Country Club.