Charity golf tournament that helps VC graduates adjusts to virus changes

Posted By: VenangoExtra.com July 20, 2020

From staff reports

Organizers of an annual charity golf outing that provides scholarships to Venango Catholic High School students were forced to change their plans this year, but the event is still on tap.

The Thomas McGinty/Patrick Connelly Golf Classic is scheduled Sunday, Aug. 2, at Venango Valley Golf Course near Cambridge Springs. The tourney is usually held in June, but the coronavirus led to a delay of nearly two months.

The outing, which is marking its 10th year this year, supports a scholarship fund in McGinty’s name that has awarded 44 scholarships to graduates of Venango Catholic, Cambridge Springs and General McLane high schools. The two Venango Catholic recipients in this year’s Class of 2020 were Hope Winger and Kaitlyn Beichner.

McGinty, who died in October 2009 at the age of 51, grew up in Oil City and graduated in 1976 from Venango Catholic, then known as Venango Christian. He was an avid golfer, and Venango Valley was his home course.

The name of Patrick Connelly, an Oil City native, 1980 Oil City High School graduate and the brother of tournament organizer Tom Connelly, was added to the outing title last year.

Patrick Connelly, who died in March 2019 at his home in Cambridge Springs at the age of 57, also enjoyed golfing and played in the tourney every year with his friends.

“This year we feel blessed to even be able to have the outing,” Tom Connelly said. “We are going through a difficult time that we could never have imagined. The pandemic has affected our schools, our families and our businesses,” Connelly added.

Connelly, who lives in Edinboro and was also a longtime friend of McGinty, says organizers aren’t actively soliciting donations this year due to the consequences of the pandemic.

But anyone who wants to golf, have dinner or make a donation can contact Connelly at (814) 823-4727 or by email at tomconnelly.114@gmail.com or Mary Jo McGinty at (814) 673-0720 or mjswazee2@yahoo.com

Organizers are asking that any registration forms coming in the mail or by email be received by this Thursday, July 23.

Registration for the tournament will begin at 12:30 p.m. that day with a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. Dinner will follow the outing.

Connelly stressed that Venango Valley is enforcing safe distancing procedures for all aspects of the outing.

More information is available on the Thomas McGinty/Patrick Connelly Charity Golf Classic Facebook page.