From staff reports
This year marks the final year of the Thomas McGinty-Patrick Connelly Charity Golf Classic that provides scholarships to Venango Catholic High School students.
The outing, which began in 2011 and is marking its 11th year this year, will be held Saturday, June 12, at Venango Valley Golf Course in Cambridge Springs.
The tournament supports a scholarship fund in McGinty’s name that has awarded 50 scholarships to graduates of Venango Catholic, Cambridge Springs, and General McLane high schools.
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 in 2019.
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.
Golfers will be traveling from Texas, Ohio, and Florida to play this year, and prizes will be coming from as far away as California.
The day has also turned into a reunion of McGinty’s Venango Christian classmates as many of the class members golf in his honor and several others turn out for dinner and socializing afterward.
In addition, local artist Fred Carrow has donated a photoshop print of McGinty and Patrick Connelly that includes photos of past outings. Copies will be available at the outing.
The registration deadline for the tourney has passed, but anyone who wants to make a donation can contact Tom Connelly at (814) 823-4727 or by email at tomconnelly.114@gmail.com
The tournament will begin at 1:30 p.m. with a shotgun start.
Tom Connelly said the tournament committee will continue to reserve a date and time for an annual golf get-together starting next year. Details are still being worked out, he said.
“It has been extremely rewarding to run the outing all these years,” Tom Connelly and his wife, Jill, said. “We think Tom and Pat would be pleased, and we hope our scholarships have helped make a difference in the lives of the senior recipients,” they added.
