The Caddiemaster Open Brings Community Together

On Monday, 120 golfers, 30 volunteers, 20 local youth, 18 hole sponsors, eight local businesses, three staff members and one title sponsor joined forces to celebrate and elevate. CLICK HERE TO VIEW A PHOTO RECAP FROM THE DAY  More than ever, local and world news reminds me why it’s so important to invest in the next generation. Teaching young people the value of respect, how to manage emotions and embrace diversity. By being a positive influence on these individuals we are making deposits in the future of our communities. On Monday, 120 golfers, 30 volunteers, 20 local youth, 18 hole sponsors, 8 local businesses, 3 staff members and 1 title sponsor joined forces to celebrate and elevate. It was a coming together of community to embrace the mission of The First Tee and make deposits in its future in the Sandhills. Volunteers, Youth Participants, Board Members and Donors wore various hats as we successfully pulled off another Caddiemaster Open. This year held at Forest Creek Golf Club. Participants enjoyed a friendly Shamble competition on both the North & South Course, where a Low Net and Low Gross Champion was crowned, followed by a closest to the pin contest behind the clubhouse on Forest Creek’s Hog Hole to determine the Overall Champion. While the field was strong, participants were given a little assistance from youth of The First Tee, staged on Par 3s to play as the 5th Man (or woman) by hitting extra tee shots and stroking extra putts. Chatter around the scoring table told the story of their help! Another twist on their round was two-fold, as participants approached the hardest Par 3 on their respective courses they would face the opportunity to be guaranteed a Hole in One for their team, before hitting a shot, simply by signing up to Sponsor a Child, ensuring a scholarship for a future curriculum program participant with The First Tee of the Sandhills. The generosity of our supporters paid off as 41 Hole in One’s were recorded and 41 new youth scholarships opened up. But, taking a closer look at the scorecards, there was a 42nd Hole in One, scored by Kathy Beddow, on the 16th Hole of the North Course. Beddow hit a high 9 wood from the ladies tee to the elevated green where the pin was tucked on the left hand side behind a bunker. With her ball landing over the bunker and safely on the green, it rolled down toward the pin and dropped in for her natural one! A sweet celebration to cap off an amazing day! While the overall winner of the day was The First Tee of the Sandhills, the hardware was ready for distribution and our 2016 winners included: North Course Low Net Team, sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance, of Jason Burgin, James Sawyer, Jeremy Kuhn and Gene Roberts. North Course Low Gross Team of Pat McGowan, Gary Strickfaden, Ron Giles and Buck Kernan. South Course Low Net Team, sponsored by BB&T, of Gary VonCannon, Kirk Soxman, Bob Spicer and Jared Fryer. South Course Low Gross Team, sponsored by FirstBank, of Phil Fulghum, Marcus Larose, George Brown and Phillip Bradley. The Hog Hole playoff crowned the BB&T team as overall Net Champion and Pat McGowan’s team as overall Gross Champion. As we look back on another successful Caddiemaster Open, thank you to each and every individual that contributed to the success of the day. Mark your calendar now for our next event, held at Pinehurst No. 2 on Monday, June 5, 2017.