Julian Tucker and Maurice v/d Linden win Wente Vineyards, Arion Wine Company, Papiamento Restaurant Charity Golf Tournament

The Tournament concluded with Julian Tucker and Maurice v/d Linden in the lead, Axl Ismael and Alexandra Brown in second place, and VJ Luidens and Gerald Sarmiento, in third.

The annual tournament, organized here for the thirteenth year in a row, is a fund raiser supporting community causes. It is offered by Arion Wine Company NV in conjunction with Wente Vineyards from California and Papiamento Restaurant. The tournament signed up 126 players, for a fun two-person scramble format.

The funds collected were earmarked for FHMD, Fundacion pa Hende Muhe den Dificultad.  FHMD was represented by President of the Board Suzette Kock and Board Member Sigrid Torre, at the Friday evening cocktail reception at Papiamento restaurant.

In her address to tournament golfers and sponsors Kock explained that FHMD provides support and guidance to victims of Domestic
Violence and helps spread awareness with the goal of ending Domestic Violence
on the island, making use of all methods at the foundation’s disposition including
advocacy. The goal, she reiterated, was to empower women in order to make them and their families less vulnerable in the future.

The tournament shotgun start at 12:30pm was personally overseen by Golf Pro James Kiley and supported by Govert van der Hout of Arion Wine Company NV and Eric Wente, Chairman of the Board at Wente Vineyard, who thanked each player their participation.

Having enjoyed an excellent afternoon on the golf course, participants congregated around the pool at the clubhouse at sunset, for some delicious soups and sandwiches provided by the Tierra del Sol restaurant, paired with Wente Vineyard wines, chased by an award ceremony, prize presentation, and picture opportunities, which concluded the action-packed day.

The day was made even more exciting when Patrick Malchiors, on behalf of the Aruba Tourism Authority presented Eric Wente with a Certificate of Distinction for having visited Aruba fifteen years in a row. “We appreciate your support of the island and its people, and your ongoing dedication to fundraising for social causes,” he added.

As customary, all tournament prizes were sponsored by Wente Vineyards and included some of the winery's finest wines, in oversize bottles, as well as a trip to the winery in California for the first-place winners to play on the Greg Norman designed golf Course, dine in the famed restaurant and of course tour the production facilities. 

The award ceremony also acknowledged the closest to the pin shots including John Catlin, on #3, Calvin Maduro on #7, Jose Luis Camara on #13, Jacqui Ingrassia on #15, and Carisia Bernabela on #17.

 An extra prize was awarded to golfer Sven Schneider who won the wine quiz, showcasing his knowledge of the Wente brand. He was rewarded with a 3-liter bottle of Murrieta's Well Estate Vineyard, The Spur, a red blend of the classic Bordeaux varietals. Murrieta’s Well Estate Vineyard is owned by the much larger Wente Family Estates, which has built it into their luxury wine brand.

All players expressed their complete satisfaction with the detailed organization of the tournament, and the many special touches; compliments were lavished on Papiamento Restaurant for the creative and inspired sandwiches-to-go served during the day.

“We are doing the tournament again, next year,” declared van der Hout,” Eric Wente already announced he will be back for the 14^th time in a row tournament,” which involved meticulous planning on behalf of the Arion Wine Company team, spearheaded by Odille Lacle. 

The annual Arion Wine Company, Wente Vineyards & Papiamento Restaurant Golf Tournament was supported by the following local companies: AIB Bank N.V., Aruba Airport Authority, Aruba Bank, Aruba Climate Control, ASD, Bright Bakery, Complete Logistics, Garage Cordia, Kooyman, Nagico Aruba NV, Optica Oduber and Kan, Plus Accountants, Robertson Fire Protection, Setar, Tribike & Tropical Bottling Company, Aruba Aloe Balm N.V. and Tundruk.