WESTFIELD, Mass.  --  Thirty-three foursomes of alumni, sponsors, families and friends of Westfield State athletics weathered record-high temperatures on Monday to play in the 19^th Annual Owl Club Golf Tournament at the Ranch Golf Club in Southwick, Mass. to support Westfield State Owls Athletics.

The scorching temps hit a record 98 degrees at nearby Bradley Airport, which necessitated shortening the tournament to nine holes in a "nine-and-dine" format for the comfort of the players.

Westfield Bank served as the lead sponsor of the event.

Owls men's basketball head coach Rich Sutter was celebrated as the guest of honor at the tournament.  Sutter is in his 27th year as the men's basketball and golf coach at Westfield.   His men's basketball team won the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference title in 2025, the third time in five seasons surrounding the pandemic that the Owls have captured the crown and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.   Sutter is closing in on his 400^th career win, all at the helm of the Westfield State program.

Sutter cited the college leadership and the support for athletics in his remarks.   Westfield State president Dr. Linda Thompson welcomed the players back to Westfield State, and remarked how vital athletics is to campus life at Westfield, and lauded the academic success of Owls student athletes. Vice presidents Steve Taksar, Dr. Kevin Hearn, Dr. William Salka, Lisa McMahon and Special Assistant to the President Dr. Michael Freeman were all present in support of the event.

On the course, Sutter's foursome, which included a pair of former MASCAC golf champions in Matteo Godek '21 and Mike Sarkis '18, blitzed the front nine in a remarkable 12-under par score to win by four strokes.

The back nine competition was won by the foursome of Dave Harrington '78, Steve Pereira '78, Jack Mosko '78 and Chad LeSage '78, who won a match of cards in a three-way tie for the top spot with a score of -5, edging the foursome of Colin Dunn '19, Brent Bean M'06, Craig Lacey and Nathan Boucher, as well as the group of Jeff Smith '12, Dylan Smith 12, Ryan O'Connell '12 and Owls' track and field coach Sean O'Brien.

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Tournament Program and Sponsors

Photos from The Tournament -  Gallery 1   -   Gallery 2 

Other winners included Jeff Smith '12, Kate Sylvain '09, Nancy Bals, and Sean Moorhouse '21 in the long drive events, and Bill Devine '74 and John Miarecki in the closest to the pin contests.   Dan Fanion won the putting contest, and Greg Little '72 was on target in the pot of gold.

 "It was another great showing by our alumni, friends and sponsors for the 19^th Annual Tournament," said Westfield State Senior Associate AD Dave Caspole, who oversees the tournament.    "The Ranch Golf Club did a great job accommodating us with a few last minute changes due to the weather, and it was a thrill to see that all of our groups recognized the importance of competing on a swelteringly-hot day, knowing that the funds raised from this event all go to support our teams and student athletes."

The tournament annually raises more than $20,000 to support the Owls' athletics program, helping to fund uniforms, team travel, technology and instruction to help all the Owls teams be at their best.

Westfield State's athletics program was recently awarded the Smith Cup for the ninth time in the last 10 years, and the fifth-straight year, as the best overall athletic program in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Participants at the post tournament dinner also were part of the first announcement of the 2025 Class of the Westfield State Athletics Hall of Fame – 2025 inductee Cheryl Bassett '88 (Softball) and many members of the 1975 Baseball Team, which will be this year's Team of Distinction were present for the announcement.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony is the next big event on the Owl Club calendar, set for Friday evening, Oct. 24, 2025 as part of the Westfield State Homecoming weekend.