"This year's tournament was a great success," said Troy Brooks, tournament co-chair. "We had 90 golfers on a beautiful fall afternoon with temperatures in the 60s and no rain." The event raised a total of $32,000 that will go towards the purchase of medical equipment for the hospital's Neonatal ICU.
"The folks at the Oaks Course did a really nice job coordinating things at the course for us," said Brooks, Chief Financial Officer at Newton Medical Center for the past 23 years. "The course was in great shape," he added.
Brooks has co-chaired the tournament for the last eight years with Bill Taylor, retired State Farm Agent and long-time supporter of NMC. Joining Brooks as co-chair for the first time this year was Richard Brown, hospital board member.
"Once again, Covington and Newton County stood tall in helping to provide a better medical facility for the local citizenry," said Brown who joined the Board last May. Brown has lived in Newton County for 31 years and co-owns a local business, Truss Systems, Inc. "Everyone I've spoken with had a great time," he said.
The Gold Sponsors for the tournament were Baker Paint & Contracting, Inc., Bank of North Georgia, Choate Construction Company, Darnel Quick Recovery, Inc., Ginn Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, & Jeep and Gwinnett Neonatology/Dr. Leslie Leigh.
"We appreciate all of the generous sponsors and players who helped make the fund raising aspect of the event such a huge success," remarked Brooks.
Tournament winners Mark Connard, Larry Jones, Bill Garvis and Thomas White took first place; Billy Fortson, Tom Cook, Charles Horne and Jamie Waring came in second place; and Cham Stone, Bob Richardson, Kevin Wineinger and Avis Williams took third place.
At the end of the day, attendees waited and watched to see who would win the big prize at the Golf Ball Drop. Val Hampton, Auxiliary President-Elect and Martha Taylor, Director of Volunteer Services took a ride in the helicopter provided by Choate Construction Company.
As the helicopter circled the course, Hampton dropped the balls that landed inside the designated circle. The lucky ball that landed closet to the hole belonged to Lisa Worthington, an employee in the hospital's business office.
Lisa was thrilled to learn she had won $1,000 just by supporting the Auxiliary's fundraising efforts. "I never expected to win," said Lisa. "I just knew that buying a ticket for $10 was the right thing to do."
