Despite the dark clouds and the distant rumbling skies, the 25th annual Jack Friel Memorial Golf Scramble, sponsored by Newtown Scholarship Association (NSA), was held on June 19 at both Newtown Country Club (NCC) and Rock Ridge Country Club (RRCC). The last putt was completed before the heavens opened up and dumped buckets of rain on the courses.

Winners were announced and dinner served as everyone sat inside RRCC clubhouse watching the rain pour down. The theme of the day was how lucky everybody was to finish 18 holes of golf without being soaked. NSA board members felt fortunate as well, given the success of the event that was not cancelled due to predicted thunderstorms.

Gross winners of the tournament held at NCC were Tim O'Connell, George Trudell, Gary Michael Jr, and Bob Gleason. Net score winners were Julie, Nick, and Dom Savino, and Matt Varbeck.

Winners from the leaderboard at RRCC, for gross score, were Malcomb Mackenzie, Mark Fries, Abe Kaoud, and Tad McGuire and, net winners were Bob McDonald, Matt Tackman, Brian Molloy, and Peter Shanazu.

NSA celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. Founded in 1937, NSA gave a $50 scholarship to a student toward college education. More than $4 million has been distributed to over 3,000 Newtown students pursuing a college education. The golf outing is one of the major fundraising events for NSA, with golfers and business contributions helping those young students of Newtown.

Mark Fries and Jim Morley have been at the helm of NSA's golf tournament for 24 years, building the event year after year, making changes over time, and developing it into a popular and successful event. Both men were honored this year at the tournament and dinner for their years of service. Neither Fries nor Morley like to take credit for the total success of the event, but the roots planted have enabled the tourney to be fruitful for the students of Newtown.
Many local businesses and individuals have supported the Jack Friel Memorial Golf Scramble for continued years, including Newtown Savings Bank, the official sponsor of this year's tournament. NSA President Ted Kohler and Pat Kelley are now the drivers of the golf cart and will be looking forward to many more successful golf tournaments with the support of the NSA board and Newtown community.