Golf scramble supports student scholarships

CASTALIA — An upcoming golf scramble aims to raise some green for local students while remembering a beloved Castalia community member. The annual Thomas Puchalski Memorial Golf Scramble takes place on Saturday at Woussickett Golf Course, 6311 Mason Road, Sandusky. Check-in begins at 7 a.m. with play starting at 8 a.m. Following Puchalski's death, on June 12, 2022, family members got together and figured out a way to best honor him while keeping his legacy alive. The golf tournament helps achieve this. "My siblings and I were devastated and wanted to find a way to channel our grief," said Sarah Bruni, one of his four children. Married to his wife, Carol, he also has three stepchildren and eight grandchildren. His family soon thereafter created the Thomas Puchalski Scholarship Fund. The golf scramble, then, serves as the primary driver to raise funds. Since 2023, two graduating students from Margaretta High School per year — six total so far — have earned scholarships. Bruni believes this year's event will provide enough money for two more scholarships. "We know how proud he'd be to have a scholarship in his name given annually to a graduating Margaretta senior," said Bruni, noting her dad received the Herman Gant Award for being the top scholar-athlete in his class. The 1975 Margaretta High School graduate excelled in football, basketball and baseball. Puchalski, 64, always stayed loyal to his alma mater. "Our dad was a Margaretta High School superfan," said Bruni, noting her dad's 2014 induction into the school's athletic hall of fame represented a proud life moment for their entire family. "Whether it was a home game or traveling to away games, rooting on the Polar Bears was one of his biggest hobbies." The total costs $400 for a team of four, which includes four rounds of golf, a cart, drink tickets, lunch, a steak dinner with an opportunity to win prizes and raffles. People can sign up, donate or sponsor by visiting woussickett.com. They can also call Bruni at 419-515-9338 or her sister, Bethany Killian, at 419-656-5152 for more information.