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Home > What's New > The 2004 Montecristo Cup
The 2004 Montecristo Cup
Posted: Monday, December 20, 2004
By David Savona
Paul Del Rossi, owner of Davidoff Columbus Circle, gets help lining up a putt from Pro Brett Quigley.
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The thwack of a titanium driver meeting a three-piece golf ball split the Caribbean air, signaling the start of the 2004 Montecristo Cup at the Hyatt Dorado Beach East course in Puerto Rico. More than $100,000 was raised in the December 1 through 5 charity event, co-sponsored by cigarmaker Altadis U.S.A. Inc. and Cigar Aficionado magazine. Other sponsors and contributors were NetJets, Cadillac, Kendall-Jackson, Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Montecristo Rum and Hyatt.
This was the sixth Montecristo Cup, and the biggest ever -- more than 150 amateurs joined pro-golfers from the Champions Tour for tournament golf and fine cigars. The senior players included Jim Thorpe -- who won the pro division for the fourth time, shooting a 63 from the back tees in his first round -- Larry Laoretti, Tom Wargo, Gibby Gilbert, Walter Hall, Miller Barber, Allen Doyle, Brett Quigley, Walter Morgan and Dana Quigley, who called the event "the best three-day pro-am I've ever played in."
Marvin R. Shanken drives up the fairway at the 2004 Montecristo Cup held at Dorado Beach.
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The sentiment was shared by much of the crowd, who enjoyed near-perfect Caribbean weather as they tried to conquer the 7,000-yard Dorado Beach East Course. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., the heavily bunkered course has several holes that hug the ocean and others that put the golfer in the midst of the Puerto Rican rain forest. Each morning the golfers would fuel up on a buffet breakfast before making their way to the practice range, hoping to commit that last lesson to muscle memory before heading out to play. Each golf cart was fully equipped with six tubed cigars from the Altadis library of brands -- Montecristos and Romeo y Julietas among them -- and there were plenty more smokes at lunch and dinner.
The golfers played in foursomes, and each group of amateurs was paired with a pro. On the first day the amateurs played with two pros, one for the first nine holes, one for the back nine; on day two they were paired with a different pro for the entire 18 holes; and on day three they were paired with another pro, ensuring that each team played with four pros for the tournament. The pro golfers were affable, giving tips when requested, trying to help cure a slice here, a chunk there, but above all making extraordinary shots that the amateurs could only dream of executing. The groups played in varying formats, always able to drop from the best drive. On the first two days they used the best drive and then each golfer played out his or her ball; on day three it was a full best-ball scramble.
Allen Doyle, one of the most accurate drivers on tour (left) with Richard G. Smith III of NetJets.
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Teams won points depending upon their daily performance -- prizes were given to the teams that won each day, and there were also daily contests for getting a ball closest to the hole on par 3s -- and the team with the most points at the end of the tournament won. Thursday's contest was won by the team of Paul R. Sweeney, Joe Powell, George Ricehouse and Ray Batey. On Friday, the team of Jim Colucci, Paul Del Rossi, Paul Quigley and Devon Quigley won. Saturday's scramble was won by Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Cigar Aficionado, radio star Rush Limbaugh, Bill Terlato of Paterno Wines and Mike Moone of Luna Vineyards.
First-place honors for the tournament went to the foursome of Colucci, the senior vice president of sales and marketing for Altadis U.S.A.; Del Rossi, who owns the Davidoff store in Manhattan's Columbus Circle; and Paul and Devon Quigley, relatives of pro golfer Dana Quigley. Paul is Dana's brother (and father to pro golfer Brett Quigley) and Devon is Dana's son.
Dana Quigley, Champion's Tour Pro, takes a cigar break.
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Second place went to a team that has not missed a Montecristo Cup. Tom Poole always brings his son, Shepard, his son-in-law Michael Lahey and his best friend, Robert Friemann.
After three days of golf (four, for those who arrived on Wednesday and got in a practice round) the weary golfers sat down for a hearty dinner with fine wines, great food, awards aplenty and a charity auction.
The event's proceeds will go to the Hurricane Relief Funds of the Caribbean Islands, which will use the money to rebuild schools and homes damaged by hurricanes and provide medical relief and scholarships to the storm victims.
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Photos by Joseph M. Hayes Also in Cigar News:
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