30th ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT A SUCCESS

The 30^th Anniversary St. Cloud Chamber Golf Tournament was celebrated in fine fashion. Things got off to an exciting start as the helicopter ball drop for the 50/50 saw bombardier Will Reeder, WJR Enterprises, take aim from 100 feet above the target and let rain hundreds of golf balls. One winner, Danielle De Pari, walked away with $1,445. The sponsor for the helicopter drop was Soldier City Saloon, on Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown St. Cloud.

A full field of golfers enjoyed an entertaining fun-filled round of golf mixed with stops to visit with vendors: Creative Printing Services, Osceola County Farm Bureau, Red Eye Media Inc., Kissimmee Bay Country Club/Remington Golf Club, St. Cloud Regional Medical Center and Wireless Zone/Verizon Wireless, who provided Bloody Marys, Mimosas, Jello Shots and Appleritas, tempered with bratwurst, brownies, hot dogs, and much, much more.

This was after being fortified with a full breakfast of eggs, bacon, fruit crepes, fruit, cheese grits, sausage and biscuits, sponsored by I.H.O.P. – St. Cloud,

Once on the course, some powerful golf took place, great scores, with the help of Mullligans. As players passed from the front nine to the back nine, everyone took a turn at the $10,000 putting contest. Two players sunk putts that put them in contention for the next round. Jason Ullrich, IHOP, sunk a 35-foot putt to putt against Sal Beninato, a retired AmeriTek executive. On the second round shoot out, Sal sunk his putt to move on for a 70-foot putt worth $10,000. Unfortunately, Sal missed. The putting contest was sponsored by AFM INC FLORIDA.

By the time everyone got back to the clubhouse, it was lunch time. Lunch sponsor Outback Steak House, St. Cloud, made it well worth sitting down to enjoy pork tenderloin with apricot & chili glaze, grilled chicken, giant baked potatoes, a chopped salad and cheese cake with raspberry sauce. Mark Farrow, Remington Golf Club, Golf Committee Chairman, emceed the presentation of awards.

Honors for First Place with a team score of 57 went to the team of Steve Worrell, Hunter Arnold, Pablo Vasquez and Kyle Payne. Second place with a score of 58 was taken by Ty Trudeau, Buddy Blandford, Jeff Blandford and Keith Dewey.

Raffle items were drawn. The four prize items included a Walt Disney World Resort package of tickets, hotel stay at The Disney Yacht Club and dinner for four; two annual passes to Universal Studios; two tickets to the Wynona Judd concert, and a 3-day, 2-night stay at the Clarion Resort Waterpark & Conference Center.

GOLF TOURNAMENT SPONSORS WERE: