Italian Open all about community
By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on August 10, 2023.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com To Rocco Suriano, the Val Matteotti Italian Open is all about community. A community that cares.Suriano, who created the fundraising golf tournament with Tony Rose and John Talerico, told The Herald as 144 participants headed out onto the course that the community supports it as does the community at the hospital who organizes it.
“We had an idea and brought it to them,” he said of the city hospital.
The tournament founders named it after Val Matteotti because he and wife Flora have given so much to the community.
“It only seemed fitting to name it after somebody who has given so much to this community. It doesn’t matter where you go, they seem to always be involved whether it’s healthcare, education, children’s sports,” said Suriano.
He said he was happy with the turnout.
“Every year we’ve had it we’ve sold out.”
He said the pandemic created nostalgia for the tournament.
“I think there were a lot of people that have golfed this tournament for a number of years prior who were looking forward to it starting up again, all community minded people, people who like the cause and want to give back. And we’re forever grateful for that.”
For Allan Bartolcic, executive director of the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation, the tournament is an important fundraiser.
“It’s tremendous. We’re going into the 26th year” and the tournament has tremendous support from the community and city businesses.
“It’s just an overall fun event to make the connection. It’s the second year back from the pandemic and you can see it was sold out within the first couple of months after the announcement and we’re just extremely excited to hold the event once again,” Bartolcic said.
The pandemic, he said, reinvigorated the tournament and brought people back together. It was a chance to reconnect, he said.
“And that’s what we are at the foundation is about reconnecting. Reconnecting with business and certainly with the community because at the end of the day with the hospital, everyone’s going to need it at some point or been affected in some way. It’s one of our favourite events that we hold every year and it’s just fun to be part of it,” he said.
The tournament attracts all ages, all skill levels for the Texas Scramble best ball event, Bartolcic said.
“It’s competitive but it’s not and everyone here is family. They enjoy the aspect and we really want to thank the Matteotti family and certainly the committee for bringing us all together once again. This is a joyful event for everyone,” he said of the tournament which has been staged every year at the Lethbridge Country Club.
Had the pandemic not interrupted the tournament, it would be in its 28th year.
“It’s fun to plan, it’s fun to be a part of.”
Weather was perfect for the event with moderate temperatures, a light breeze, a few sprinkles of rain and partly cloudy skies.
“We have a tremendous volunteer network, tremendous support from the hospital and AHS and from all those that are involved,” Bartolcic said.
Funds raised will be dedicated to the greatest needs of the hospital, he said.
“As things sort of evolve and develop, I suspect there will sort of some further expansion and announcements et cetera with respect to AHS but its for the greatest needs of the hospital.” Follow @albeebHerald on Twitter 4
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