Clam Sauce And Cancer Research

If you ever wondered if it’s possible to have a good time while fighting cancer, ask Phil Consolino.

Phil, president of the Atlanta-based distributor SouthEast Link, has been a leader in raising money for the fight against cancer through “The Tony Open,” the Jackson, Mich., golf tournament named after his father, the late Anthony (Tony) L. Consolino.

The tournament was founded and chaired by Tony Consolino in 1977, and was eventually dubbed the “Tony Open” in his honor. Tony later was diagnosed with lung cancer, but inevitably died of a heart attack in 1994, five days before that year’s tournament. “We grieved, attended my dad’s funeral, and stood tall and participated in the tournament two days later,” said Phil.

Phil took over as chair that year, and served until June 2004. “From my new perch in Atlanta, it was very difficult to captain that big ship,” he said.

The goal has always been to get sponsors to underwrite all the costs of the tournament, so that 100 percent of each player’s $350 donation goes directly to cancer research. About $100,000 is raised annually. Usually 50 to 60 teams compete in the tournament that is played concurrently on two different golf courses in Jackson.

“My father’s dream for the tournament was to raise $1 million. We met that goal the year after he died,” Phil said.

It was Tony’s famous homemade linguine clam sauce that did it. “I found a couple of containers of my dad’s linguine clam sauce in the freezer. I brought them to the tournament, unsure about what we were going to do with them. We auctioned them off that evening, for $5,000 each, which put us over the million dollar mark,” Phil said.

The year of the linguine sauce, Phil noticed that a local businessman was at the dinner, even though he didn’t play in the tournament. “I visited with him after dinner. He told me he read about the tournament in the paper, and wanted to be sure we were able to hit the $1 million dollar goal. He gave us $10,000.”

Phil is the epitome of an “idea guy.” He helped start a “Man to Man” educational program focusing on men’s prostate cancer awareness and support. He got local merchants to design and annually donate a unique trophy for the tournament. He also recruited a women’s singing group. “We used to have students entertain at the tournament banquet. One year I heard some performers at a church event and thought they’d be great for Tony Open,” Phil said.

It was a group of women singing in four-part harmony. “I thought the singers were wonderful, but for some reason, golfing men don’t like to sit and listen to ladies in hoop skirts singing a cappella,” said Phil.

Apparently, you could tell by observing people’s body language that they were thinking, “I hope this is the last song.” Phil knew he was in trouble when a customer wanted to buy him a drink. The guy said, “Look, Phil, we want to come, play golf, have a drink, eat a steak, and go home. If you cut out all the other stuff, we’ll pay you more.”

He meant it. This year, with the help of golfers, volunteers, and sponsors — along with a couple of batches of linguini sauce and some ladies in hoop skirts along the way — the overall money raised by the Tony Open hit the magic $2 million dollar mark.

Gretchen Roufs, a 15-year janitorial supply industry veteran, owns Auxiliary Marketing Services of San Antonio. To suggest someone you think should be featured in “freetime,” contact her at (210) 601-4572 or e-mail.