Community Out in Force to Support Annual Sporting Affair and Chopper Dropper

MELBOURNE, FLA. — The 15th Annual Sporting Affair and Chopper Dropper was a successful fund raiser for athletic scholarships. Organizing the event, held at
the Suntree Country Club, was the 2007 Sporting Affair Committee supported by Florida Tech staff and volunteers.
This year’s committee was led by Joe Flammio, honorary chairman; Brent Peoples, chairman; and D. Travis Proctor, golf chairman. Coordinating activities
were Senior Vice President for Advancement Thomas G. Fox; Director of Athletics Bill Jurgens; Director of Facilities Brian Dailey; Rosalind Weiss and
Jennifer Neuhard, Office of Advancement; Trustee Richard Baney, M.D.; Trustee F. Alan Smith; and Milo Zonka, alumnus and supporter.
The live and silent auctions took place in the country club’s ballroom where attendance was universally acknowledged to be the best ever. Supporters were
wall-to-wall, enjoying the cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Bill Jurgens kicked off the auction with the help of Florida Tech President Anthony J. Catanese.
The auctioneer was Panther alumnus Bino Campanini.
The day began with a 1 p.m. shotgun start of the Sporting Affair Golf Tournament. The top three teams received the “Flammio Waterford Crystal Trophy.” This
year’s first place foursome was John Hopkins, Rob Sullivan, Dennis Brady and Mike Poe with the lowest score of 51.
Florida Tech’s Pat Cappola, men’s head golf coach, led the second place team to a team score of 53 for the silver. Cappola’s foursome included Tony
Bisignano, George McLeod and Jack Corcoran. Coming in third place with a 54 score, which was won by a score card play off, was the foursome of Bryan
Hatfield, Keith Williams, Walter Wood and Keith Nickles.
The Chopper Dropper, sponsored by Brighthouse Networks, and cocktail reception followed the golf outing. The Brevard County Sheriff’s Department flew the
Panther “Chopper” for the 2,000-ball golf ball drop. At 6:15, all 2,000 balls were dropped in a very exciting fly-over as the “chopper” made two rotations
to unload two giant duffle bags of the numbered golf balls. This year besides the closest to the pin, there were also 12 other monetary prizes awarded to
the next 12 closest golf balls.
Half of the proceeds raised by the “Chopper Dropper” golf ball sponsorships went toward Florida Tech athletic scholarships. The other half was divided into
one $25,000 first place prize, one $10,000 prize, one $5,000 prize and ten $1,000 prizes.
ESPN radio hosted the Terry Bowden Show live via remote at Suntree with Bowden again announcing the winners via the radio. He also helped judge the ball
drop.
The winner and closest to the pin this year was Trustee Phillip Farmer. Second place was Geoff Stam. The third golf ball closest to the flag was bought by
Elaine Carlyle for the $5,000 prize.
Ten lucky winners received $1,000 each, including Richard Richardson, Edward Scott, Jack Hartley, Sam McClure, Ann Armstrong, Fran Galey, Gayle and Jay
Duncombe, Carrie Black, Ron Bailey and Terese Svensson.
Other Awards:
Longest Drive: Bob Russell and Monica Thomas
Closest to the Pin: Bruce Reeder and Monica Thomas
Million-Dollar Shootout Runner-ups: 1st, Bruce Reeder; 2nd, Mark McNally; and 3rd, Keith Williams
For more information, vist: www.chopperdropper.com.