By CHRIS CHRISTOPHER
The results are in from the first Tee Off for Mya, a charity golf event, at the Jumping Brook Country Club in Neptune.
Capturing first place at minus-13 were Chris Matarazzo, Harry Matarazzo, Jon Desmarais and Brendan Desmarais.
Finishing second at minus-13 were Bob Heugle, Chris Heugle, Ed Karaban and Bill (Doc) Bechtoldt.
Placing third at minu-13 were Edwin Terry, Nick Chomko, Rayan Macnamara and Chris McCutcheon.
Closest to the pin on the 11th hole was Brian Emerson. Closest to the pin on the 13th hole was Mike Kircher. Brian Vivian hit the longest drive among the men on the eighth hole. Kate Chambrorich hit the longest drive among the women on the eighth hole.
Dave Tisony won the Pot of Gold. Jim Partz was the closest to the line on the seventh hole.
The event, which utilized the scramble, best ball format, consisted of 123 players.
Warrior Justin Condoluci addressed the attendees during the Awards Dinner. Angel Dad Ed Bader, the father of Stephanie Bader, spoke to the attendees prior to the tee off.
A total of 100 percent of the proceeds went to The Mya Lin Terry Foundation, named for the Ocean Township resident who lost her five-year struggle on April 10, 2013, at the age of 10 to Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Secondary AML. She suffered three relapses and received three stem cell transplants from three separate donors. She was a fifth-grade student at the Township of Ocean Intermediate School.
“The Foundation raised more than $30,000 from this event,” said Kelly Lynn Terry, Mya Lyn Terry’s mother and an event organizer. “The money went to critical financial support for our warrior children and their families who are suffering in our community. We hope to make this an annual event. We’re looking at either June or September of 2021 for our next event.”
With COVID-19 grossly affecting the Foundation’s ability to fundraise in support of our 159 families, we had to become creative and thankfully the Jumping Brook Country Club was immediately on board and in support. We took a traditional golf outing and inserted social distancing measures to assure the safety of our donors without removing any of the fun. Everyone adapted to the enhance safety measures very well. Masks were worn when people entered the clubhouse. Spirits were very high despite the scorching heat.”
On the golf committee were Ken Pickett, Vivian, Rich VanWagner, Joe Appio and Christopher Vivian.
A girls high school soccer match, known as the Mya Cup, at Ocean Township High School last fall between the Spartans and the Colts Neck Cougars raised more than $6,000, according to Terry.
Other fundraising events are on tap.
The Mya Lin Terry Open, a tennis and social event, will take place Nov. 14. Mya’s Pocketbook Bingo is scheduled for Feb. 19. The Ocean Township Mayor’s Charity Ball will take place May 2.
“The Foundation has gifted more than $390,000 in its five-year history,” Terry said.