FOLSOM – Sunshine, teamwork, and plenty of competitive spirit filled the fairways of Empire Ranch Golf Club on Friday as the 28th Annual Folsom Mayor’s Cup brought together 104 golfers for one of the city’s most anticipated community traditions. Hosted by the City of Folsom and Mayor Sarah Aquino, the tournament blended sport, networking, and civic pride while raising critical funds for The CAVE Teen Centers.
The Mayor’s Cup has become a hallmark event on the city’s calendar, where local business leaders, elected officials, county representatives, and community members set aside a workday to rally for youth. While foursomes traded drives and putts throughout the morning and afternoon, the heart of the tournament was its mission: supporting after-school programs that provide safe, engaging environments for middle school students.
Proceeds from the event directly benefit The CAVE Teen Centers, located at Folsom and Sutter Middle Schools. These centers serve sixth through eighth grade students by offering structured activities, from STEM projects and group challenges to arts, crafts, movies, and sports. The program also provides homework space and mentoring by recreation leaders, ensuring Folsom’s youth have the guidance and supervision they need in the critical hours after school.
Competition at this year’s event featured both open and coed divisions, along with a series of skills challenges that added to the excitement.
In the Open Division, the first-place team of Western Systems—Eric Nordby, Shane Flaming, Logan Grundy, and Steve Goodell—emerged on top. Second place went to the foursome representing Powerhouse—Gary Richards, Joe Diniz, Pat Bodoh, and Darren Gregory.
The Coed Division saw Mario’s Early Toast capture first place behind the team of Mario Astorga, Mike Satow, Miguel Machuca, and Nicolette Bondura. The second-place finishers were Chick-fil-A’s team of Steve Brown, Matt Crane, Adrian Blanco, and Adrian Chang.
Beyond the team play, golfers also vied for individual honors in a slate of skill-based contests. Logan Grundy claimed both the men’s longest drive and the marshmallow drive competitions, while Nicolette Bondura showcased her consistency by winning the women’s longest drive and closest to the pin contests. The men’s closest to the pin went to Aron Rimes, while Charles Terry walked away with the “Hit the Green, Win Some Green” challenge.
Winners in each category earned prizes ranging from Golf Galaxy gift cards to golf gear, but the real prize was knowing their efforts will help sustain one of Folsom’s most vital youth programs. This was the third year that Folsom Times was invited to compete in the event as well as sponsor it. The Folsom Times team of Adam Frick, Bill Sullivan, Reese Punter and Ben Pearl did not make breaking news finishing nine under par, but grateful to be part of the city event.
Now in its 28th year, the Mayor’s Cup has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for The CAVE Teen Centers since its inception. More than just a golf outing, the tournament serves as a living example of how civic leadership, local business, and community members can work together to make a lasting difference.
As the final putts dropped and teams gathered for photos, it was clear the Mayor’s Cup continues to be about more than golf. It remains a celebration of community, a commitment to Folsom’s youth, and a reminder that every swing taken on the course helps keep doors open for the next generation.
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