Sold Out Pioneer Open Raises More Than $130K for Student Scholarships

Alumni team take home trophy for fourth year in a row

Gray skies and a steady drizzle did little to dampen the enthusiasm of this year’s field of 148 golfers at Sacred Heart University’s 36th annual Pioneer Open presented by Chartwells held at the SHU’s Great River Golf Club on June 9, nor did the weather slow one foursome’s winning ways. 

Alex Danais ’13, Alex Fait ’12, Doug MacLean ’13 and Alex Stuart ’13, who have played in the event each year since 2020 earned themselves the honor of a four-peat in the Alumni Championship, one of the tournament’s three competitive divisions. 

“We’re competitive by nature, so the four-peat has been on our minds since this time last year, but it’s more than that,” Danais said. “We genuinely look forward to the Pioneer Open each year.”

Danais said it was MacLean—the lone member of the group not named Alex—who dubbed the group #TeamAlex and set up an eponymous group chat that keeps them all connected.  “Winning is a blast, of course,” Danais added. “But it’s only an added bonus to the prize of spending time with three of your best friends and reconnecting with the SHU community.” 

Other winning teams included Matt Reale ’86, John Delvecchio, Josh Rifkin and Rick Millington in the Pioneer Open Division and Anthony Vaccaro P ’25, Sam Tolisano, Giovanni Onelli and Mike Mollin in the Parent Classic. Brooke Goff and Joe Russillo won the Longest Drive Awards, Cindy Pegg won the women’s Closest to the Pin Award and Ernie Knewitz P ’27 won the men’s Closest to the Pin Award. 

Ultimately, Sacred Heart students emerged as the real winners, given the sold-out event raised more than $130,000 in student scholarship funds. 

“The Pioneer Open has truly become my pride and joy,” said Jaimie DeSisto ’04, associate director for alumni engagement & events. “It’s more than just a golf event, it’s a celebration of community, spirit and purpose. Working with the Great River Golf Club, connecting with the players and feeling the energy on the day, is something I look forward to every year. Everyone knows we’re here for something bigger: raising funds to support student scholarships. As a proud Sacred Heart alum, I know firsthand the power of education to transform a life.”

Alumni, parents, friends of SHU and sponsors all came together to sustain a tradition that has grown just as the University has significantly expanded in the decades since the first Pioneer Open was played.

In addition to playing 18 holes of golf on an award-winning course, players participated in a prize drawing, as well as silent and live auctions with gifts donated by alumni, businesses, friends of SHU and other sponsors. 

Reale ’86, who served as volunteer auctioneer, spoke about his affection for his alma mater and the exponential growth he has witnessed at SHU. “When I went here, there were only four buildings and it was a commuter school,” he said. “But it was the only school I wanted to go to.” 

A longtime participant in the Pioneer Open, he applauded the friends, alum, parents, sponsors, donors, club staff and SHU leadership who have made it such a special event. “The most important thing about SHU is the students,” he said. “Sacred Heart attracts students with a unique character. They give back to their community.” 

Danais and his teammates have similarly felt that spirit at the Pioneer Open and through other events that bring them together. 

“What I love about SHU is the longstanding relationships that are formed,” Stuart said. Fait added that “it’s really a close-knit community.”

“There’s something really unique about the Pio Open,” Danais said. “It’s competitive, but also incredibly welcoming and fun. It’s a chance for people across different graduating classes to come together and feel like they are still a part of something bigger.”

When alum show up to events like this, they play a key role in creating a strong cycle of support and connection that keeps the university moving forward, Danais said.

Of course, there’s still the fun of winning. “Yes, we’ll 100% be back next year to defend the title.”

Pictured above: The winning foursome celebrates their fourth straight Pioneer Open win.