TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Match Of Cards Decides Coalition For Homeless Golf Tourney

Mark Pinson, Highlands Today

Pat Graf watches this birdie putt as partners from left, Justin Aeder, Joe Graf and Danielle Aeder look on during Sunday's Highlands County Coalition for the Homeless golf tournament at Sebring Golf Club.

ADVERTISEMENT

By MARK PINSON

Highlands Today

Published: March 17, 2009

SEBRING - The competition was stiff in the inaugural Highlands County Coalition for the Homeless golf tournament on Saturday at Sebring Golf Club.

The talented threesome of William Clarke, John Rich and Jonathan Shick won the 18-hole, scramble format event with a 5-under-par 67, after a match of cards with the foursome of Jose Jimenez, Paul Przychocki, Jeremy Choen and DJ Smiling.

The match of cards went to the fourth handicap hole before the tie was broken.

Pat Graf, Joe Graf, Justin Aeder and Danielle Aeder finished third with a 73, while John Kromholz, Al Kromholz, Arnold Wilson and Robert Wilson came in fourth with a 77.

The team of Jay Sargent, Billy Quercia, Richard Reinhardt and Jeff Reinhardt also shot a 77, but lost the match of cards on the first handicap hole.

Closest-to-the-pin winners were Pat Graf on hole No. 3 and Jose Jimenez on hole No. 16.

Pat Graf also won the ladies longest drive contest.

The event was a fundraiser for the Highlands County Coalition for the Homeless.

"We want to start a transportation program for the homeless in Highlands County," said Richard Reinhardt, who is the executive director for the Highlands County Coalition for the Homeless. "There are more than 1,800 homeless people in Highlands County, and we're trying to buy a vehicle and fund some staff so we can get our homeless clients to doctor's appointments and to their jobs.

"It's not just the chronic homeless, it's also people who've lost their jobs and homes because of the economic situation."

Because of the economic downturn there are tent cities in many areas of the country and Highlands County is certainly not immune to the problem.

"We hope to have this tournament as an annual event and we can't thank the community enough for their support," said Reinhardt. "We're starting a transitional housing program in Avon Park and we're going to need a transportation program in place to help them become more self sufficient."

For more information or to donate to this worthy organization please contact the Highlands County Coalition for the Homeless at 452-1086.

Mark Pinson can be reached at 863-386-5837 or mpinson@highlandstoday.com

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT