Charity golf tournament raised $10,100 for Hospitality House

More than 150 attended the charity golf tournament hosted by Casa Rustica restaurant on Aug. 27.

The charity tournament is now in its third year and continues to grow. This year's event raised $10,100 to benefit the Hospitality House of Boone through 128 players and a raffle. The 32 teams brought the tournament to maximum capacity.

Each year, a different charity is highlighted as the recipient of the funds raised. Last year the tournament raised almost $10,000 for multiple sclerosis.

"Some of the proceeds from last year's tournament went to nationwide organizations," said Richard Pedroni, who owns Casa Rustica with his wife, Elizabeth. "This year we chose the Hospitality House because we wanted to help a local project - help the people in our community first."

The first tournament raised funds for the Watauga County Rescue Squad and Watauga County Humane Society.

Richard and Elizabeth Pedroni first began raising money for charities four years ago in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The restaurant hosted a spaghetti dinner for relief organizations. The following year, the charity golf tournament began.

"The spaghetti dinner opened our eyes to what we could do and how much money we could raise for charity," Elizabeth Pedroni said.

"My wife and I enjoy volunteering our time and golf is a passion for us," Richard Pedroni said. "This event is a good outlet for both and it's fun."

The tournament was a Captain's Choice format with teams of four golfers. The person with the longest drive or putt set the course for the entire team. All team members shot from the position closest to the hole.

The cost to participate was $100 per player, which Pedroni expects to remain the same in coming years. The cost included 18 holes, lunch and dinner. The food is prepared on site by Casa Rustica chef Hunter Bowling.
The winners of the tournament, with a team score of 17 under par, were Todd Hartley, Jim Houston, Billy Barker and Will Woods. Each team member won a $150 gift certificate to the RedTail Mountain pro shop.

Corporate sponsors of the tournament include Coca-Cola, Sysco Foods and U.S. Foods. Other sponsors include RedTail Mountain (the host course), Boone Industries, Jo-Lynn Enterprises and local restaurants. The raffle consisted of several gift certificates to local businesses for food, merchandise or services. The most anticipated raffle item was an Appalachian State University golf bag donated by T.B. Dicks and Golf, which was displayed as Casa Rustica weeks prior to the event.