St. Vincent’s 24th Annual Charity Golf Classic

On Monday, October 6, St. Vincent’s Santa Barbara held its 24^th Annual Charity Golf Classic at Ty Warner’s The Montecito Club, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. This annual favorite is sold out a year ahead, and its proceeds support single mothers and their children through St. Vincent’s Family Strengthening Program.

The event started at 9:30 am with registration and surprise gifts. Contributed by Alex Bollag, owner of Golf Max in Loreto Plaza, each registered player received a pair of Puma Fusion Cushion Sport sneakers. Golf Max is the largest retail golf specialty store in our town. Players were also treated to reusable travel water bottles donated by the charity’s newest sponsor, Matilija Pure Water Systems. On hand for the players was brunch, the Stretch Lab pros for massages, and raffle ticket sales.

The Presenting Sponsor was Sally Valpredo with the Sarah Lee Pascoe Foundation. A record number of Birdie Sponsors supported this year’s Classic: Ann Jackson Family Foundation, Bako Sweet, Brophy & Sons INC., Community West Bank, Cordero Painting Company, Cordero Real Estate, Cox Communications, David and Louise Borgatello, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Lash Construction, Lumi Funding Group, Matilija Pure Water Systems, Montesano Group Inc, Paul Cashman State Farm Insurance, Sattler Trust, Taylor Farms, The NewtMont Foundation, Vantage Point Media, and Wakefield 805.

The event is headed and founded by Bill Cordero Sr. His co-chair is emcee Drew Wakefield, who conducts the Putting Contest and its finale which is officially judged by the Montecito Club’s Pro Shop. 

At the 10 am Putting Contest, all players get a free chance at the first hole. A hole in one gets them to the second putting hole, and if successful to the elimination round for the finale putt. This year again saw Paul Cashman as the winner of the elimination round.He tried for the Putting Finale’s $25,000 cash prize and came very close.

At 11:45 am the 21 golf teams of four each got in their assigned golf carts for a brief morning program. St. Vincent’s President and CEO Rosa Paredes welcomed the golfers and thanked them for their continued support of St. Vincent’s programs. She thanked and named all the event sponsors. Paredes introduced and thanked Cordero, Sr. and his wife Linda Tennyson; Bill Cordero, Jr.; and Sally Valpredo and her niece Connor Limont.

To exemplify the success of the Family Strengthening Program, one of its graduates, Maria Gonzalez, spoke about her journey and gave thanks to St. Vincent’s. Next, Fr. Larry talked briefly to the golfers and extended his blessing for a great tournament. He stayed and gave high fives to the golfers as they drove off to play.

The tournament concluded at 4:30 pm and the players with their guests had a Mexican buffet served by The Montecito Club. Wakefield took to the mic to announce the silent auction timeline, the golf tournament winners, and raffle winners. Paredes honored the Daughters of Charity, Sr. Oanh, Sr. Maria and Sr. Rocio, for their work at St. Vincent’s; and presented gifts to Bill Cordero, Sr. and Sally Valpredo for their continued support of the organization.

The 2025 St. Vincent’s Golf Tournament Winners are:

Closest to the Pin: Mike Zlaket, Chad Brock, Wayne Cassriel, Austin Muller, and Bowen Fredricks

Longest Drive Women: Wendy Laub

Longest Drive Men: Colby Lewis

First Place Women: Sandy Boneck, Wendy Laub, Nancy Beaver, Linda Tennyson

First Place Net: Nolan Nicholson, Jeff Spinelli, Art Azedelfia, Dallas Haun

First Place Gross: Bhavik Patel, Mike Valpredo, Chad Brock, Colby Lewis

60-foot Putting Finalist: Paul Cashman

411: www.stvincents-sb.org