Sunny Hills Golf Course in Washington County, Florida was the site on Saturday, July 21, 2018 of the Inaugural ‘Friends of Jerry Tyre’ Golf Tournament, with all proceeds earmarked for the Vernon, Florida Football Program, as seen in these photos by Real Florida Media, a subsidiary of The Goulding Agency.
Coach Laurie Simmons, the first female football coach in the history of Vernon Football was on hand to help coordinate the event, along with Head Football Coach Gerald Tranquille and Vernon Principal Brian Riviere.
‘We are excited about the upcoming school year at Vernon High’, remarked Simmons, ‘and I am excited to have this opportunity to help coach the Vernon Football squad this Fall’.
Ten teams participated in Saturday’s tournament, including teams headed up by Washington County Commissioner Todd Abbott and County Commission Chairman Tray Hawkins, and the field included many persons of note in the region, including longtime Vernon resident and football supporter Jerry Tyre.
‘Jerry Tyre has always worked toward the success of Vernon’, said Washington County Commission Chairman Tray Hawkins at the event, ‘and this is an opportunity for the community to come out and support Vernon football in Jerry’s name’.
Longtime Washington County Commissioner Todd Abbott also headed up a team, including Washington County Judge Colby Peel and Andy Langley, and the team took first place honors, winning the top prize and donating back to Vernon’s football program their winnings.
‘It’s an honor to be among this group of people here today’, said Abbott as the time for the shotgun started approached on Saturday morning. ‘We are very lucky to live here in Washington County and this golf facility is second to none in the area’.
Following the announcement of the results Abbott said, ‘This is a great cause, a way to recognize Jerry Tyre and an excellent opportunity to support our young adults and the Vernon High Football Program’.
Abbott continued, ‘Later this month we will be holding the Dixie Pre-Majors Baseball World Series right here in Chipley, in Washington County, and no matter where you look here in the County, there is something of which we can be proud’.
‘For the past eight years I have had the honor and privilege of serving the residents of Washington County, Florida, and in that time, working with these other sitting Commissioners, we have succeeded in making many improvements, including paying down our debt and formulating a plan to make the County debt-free in the next few years’, said Abbott in closing.
Third place went to Danny Hood, Hayward Dykes and Chris Ziglar; Second place was won by Scott Golden, Chris Golden and Billy Woodberry (who also donated their winnings back to the football team); and First place was garnered by Colby Peel, Todd Abbott and Andy Langley.
The award for ‘Longest Drive’ went to Donald Jenkins and ‘Closest to the Pin’ went to Team Lilly Pad Adventures. Lunch was served by local Vernon restaurant ‘Jacket’s Nest’, longtime Vernon supporter and another very valuable asset to the community.
The golf tournament was a success, raising several thousands of dollars for the Vernon High School Football Program, and the next occurrence of the ‘Friends of Jerry Tyre’ Golf Tournament has been scheduled for April 6, 2019, again to be held at Sunny Hills Golf Course.
