By Mary O’KEEFE

The 16th Annual Montrose Chamber Golf Tournament was held on May 3 at the Verdugo Hills Golf Course. The annual event is a fundraiser for the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce. Funds raised help the chamber support their scholarship program.

The event started with a putting challenge at 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch provided by Guiseppe’s Pizzeria, Montrose Bakery, Sake Sushi Bar and Lounge, Three Drunken Goats and All-In-One Stop Pizza. The shotgun start at 1 p.m. signaled the start of the golfing festivities.

Chamber members, supporters and golf enthusiasts met on the course enjoying a warm spring day but perhaps the main event was the awarding of the scholarships at the end of the afternoon.

Seven seniors from Crescenta Valley High School and Clark Magnet High School received scholarships to further their education. Those awarded were Christine Dashdemirians, Nikolas Gutierrez-Kovener, Rachel Kwon, Clare Kyle McCreary, Jessica Palacios, Molly Shelton and Aimee Yeghiayan.

Glendale Unified School District Board of Education President Christine Walters presented the scholarships to the recipients.

For the second year, Chamber member and Glendale police officer Joe Allen chaired the event. To remind golfers/supporters what they were playing for and where their donations were going, Allen approached several past scholarship recipients and had them talk on camera about how the community’s financial support helped them in college.

This year, in addition to those who were filmed, one of the recipients, Kate Redmond, came by personally to thank supporters. She is now in the nursing program at Glendale Community College.

In addition to the past scholarship recipients, the film also spotlighted the businesses that supported the tournament. The film was shot and edited by students from Clark Magnet High School’s film classes.

“They were amazing,” said Melinda Clarke, MVCCC executive director and golf tournament organizer.

This year the Chamber organizers surprised long time tournament supporter Rick Dinger, owner of CV Insurance.

Not only does the golf tournament hold a special place in Dinger’s heart because of his long commitment to the fundraising event, but also Verdugo Golf Course was where he and his wife first met.

“We wanted to thank Rick for all that he has done for the tournament but I didn’t realize he met his wife here,” Clarke said. “That made it even more special.”

The event was a success, raising more money this year than ever before with some attributing its success to the hard work of its committee. Members of the tournament committee included Pat Longo from Andy’s Transfer and Nayiri Nahabedian, GUSD school board vice president.

  Mary Okeefe