Wayne Community College golf benefit raised $53,000
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on August 6, 2006 2:03 AM
This year's Wayne Community College benefit golf tournament, held in June at Lane Tree Golf Course in Goldsboro, has been deemed the most successful in the event's history by event organizers.
The tournament committee announced that the record-breaking $53,000 raised this year will provide more than 100 scholarships. In its 14 years, the tournament has given the Foundation of Wayne Community College $520,000 for distribution to students.
"That's the best-spent money we've got. We really use that money wisely, from calculators to classes for students who work and have kids," said Foundation Executive Director Jack Kannan.
Twenty-two businesses and individuals gave $1,000 each to be corporate sponsors. Another 47 businesses signed on as gold and blue sponsors.
Wooten Oil Company founded the event in 1993 as a way to contribute to a cause that would use all of the money raised locally. Company President Dillon Wooten is still instrumental in the tournament and Wooten Oil/Kwik Mart continues to be a corporate sponsor.
The event's pre-tournament silent and live auctions brought in nearly $7,000. The fund benefited even more when Bea Lamb, a trustee of the college, won the 50/50 drawing and immediately returned her winnings to the pot. Last year, Dillon Wooten also chose to donate his winnings back.
Despite the fact that the tournament was postponed due to rain, the field was down only four teams. The top team in the four-person super-ball tournament was David Chambley, Wade Quinn, Dru Milliken and Bradley Hood. Dr. Philip Brantley recorded the longest drive and Mike Wilson won the putting contest.
A team of community and college volunteers, under the leadership of this year's tournament chairmen Geoff Kokiko, Chris Cox and Rick Sumner, also helped make it a great tournament, said Kannan.
"Even after 14 years, the enthusiasm is still here. People are dedicated to this tournament and keep making it better and more successful," he said.
The 15th annual tournament has been scheduled for June 12-13, 2007 at Lane Tree Golf Club.