Newtown Scholarship Association (NSA) kicked off its 2021 fundraising events with the 29th Annual Jack Friel Memorial Golf Scramble, held at the Country Club of Waterbury, on June 21. With all the groundwork completed and the day approaching, organizers and golfers were hoping weather would not become a factor in this year’s tournament, as the event resumed a bit of normalcy following last year’s cancellation of the event due to the coronavirus. The sun was hidden by clouds, keeping the course cool and inviting to all of the 120 golfers.

The Encon team, composed of Mike Cerrata, Eric D’Eramo, Carl Melkus, and Tim Boyle, took home the first place gross with a 13 under par, while the Camp team players of Christian Camp, Andy Sachs, David Howard, and Keith Manca earned first place net with a score of 13 under par.

Always looking to keep the golf outing fresh and interesting, tournament chair Ted Kohler added a few twists to the event this year with a bit of technology to keep it exciting.

“The Golf Status app allowed golfers to track other teams by following a live leader board during the event to see how each team was faring in the field,” stated Kohler. “We also had Golf Lounge 18 using technology on a long drive competition using the TrackMan system to video the golfer’s swing and measure the metrics for the long drive shot.”

The day started with a luncheon and ended with dinner at the club. NSA had a silent auction and raffle table for golfers to bid on and take things home. Many great prizes were offered, from golfing foursomes at prestigious courses to fun take-home items. After 18 holes of golf, the players were very supportive with the raffle and silent auction, helping continue to support NSA.

By way of fundraisers held throughout the year, NSA continues its mission to award scholarships and continuing aid to students with financial need heading to college. For the 2020-2021 school year, NSA has awarded 174 students from Newtown need-based scholarships totaling approximately $300,000. In the 83-year history of NSA, more than $4 million in scholarship awards have been distributed to college students.

“With the continued support of our community and the golfers that return to play every year, we are able to help achieve our mission,” stated Kohler. “It seemed everyone enjoyed playing the course and had a good time.”