Participants of the 41st PIANJ Golf Classic, which was held in Maplewood on 9/23, met Tom Azilides at the 18th hole. There they took advantage of the opportunity to get to know him and his dad, Nick Azilides, and to marvel at some of the medals Tom won at Special Olympics golf competitions: Bronze at 2006 USA Games in Iowa, Gold at 2010 USA Games in Nebraska, and Silver at USA Games in New Jersey 2014. The most recent one, which is also the one he is most proud of, is the 2023 North America Invitational Gold medal.
When asked about what stands out about having participated at several USA Games, Tom Azilides reminisced about staying in college dorms with his teammates and competitors. “It was interesting to have that college experience, to be in dorms and eat cafeteria food.”
Tom Azilides, who lives in Northvale, has also participated in Basketball and Bowling events in the past. But now he focuses solely on competing in golf. When asked about how their interest in the sport began, Nick Azilides said it started when Tom noticed a driving range while they were playing mini golf. “He said he wanted to try that. We got him a summer job, so he would be able to purchase equipment and play” Nick continued. Tom nodded, and quickly added “I always wanted to ride a golf cart.” When they finally started competing at SONJ Golf, there were no individual divisions for athletes, so Nick Azilides decided to be his son’s partner. His face lit up as he was recounting the story, but quickly specified “I felt that I was holding Tom back. He is a better player than I.”
On this day, Tom had the chance to prove his golf skills again and again: He would take the tee shots on this particular par 3, helping the foursomes get on the green. The players observed Tom’s swings and hits with keen interest, and his consistently great ball placement was widely praised. Many golfers realized how tricky the conditions were when they took their own tee shots and had to fight with wind and some intermittent drizzle.
Tom’s next event will be the 2024 North Golf Regional tournament at Plainfield West 9, in Edison, where he hopes to qualify for the 2024 Special Olympics Falls Games. Thank you Tom and Nick Azilides for having been an amazing highlight of the event!