A team of newcomers claimed the top spot Saturday at Sheriff Bill Farmer’s annual golf tournament.
Dan Lotz, Marc Iceberg, Nick Kane and Josh Cooper shot a 57 at the event held at Tierra Del Sol.
They edged a trio of Sumter County Commissioners — Al Butler, Don Burgess and Don Hahnfeldt — and David Williams, a Sumter County school board candidate. Williams is also the PGA facility manager at Cane Garden Country Club. They shot 58.
The sheriff’s annual tournament raises money to help youth.
This year’s tourney attracted 288 golfers. The final tally isn’t in yet, but $18,000 was raised through sponsorships alone.
Chelsey Vaughn is a sheriff’s scholarship recipient studying at Lake-Sumter State College. She is the daughter of Lt. Darrin Segrest of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and his wife, Rebecca.
Chelsey is considering becoming a game warden with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
“College is expensive,” she said. “The scholarship is a big help.”
Wes Brooks of the Village of Collier was a first-time participant. He and his wife Kat are both retired from the Metro Dade Police Department. Their son Landon played in a foursome with his father and with Larry Neill Sr., also retired from Metro Dade, and Larry Neill Jr. They were blown away by the tournament.
“It was top notch,” said Brooks, who was involved in a tournament when he was at Metro Dade. “Really outstanding.”
Adeline Loyd, known as “Miss Al” at the county annex at Morse Boulevard and County Road 466, has been a volunteer with the tournament since the beginning 16 years ago.
She was selling mulligans for the tourney.
“Just about everybody bought,” she said. “Why not? It is such a great tournament and such a great cause.”
The sheriff said he was thrilled with the outpouring of support.
“I just can’t thank everybody enough,” he said.
Third place went to the team of Steve Simmons, Phil Poole, Bill Herr and John Corson. They shot a total of 59.
It was a tie for fourth place between a team made up of Paul Lanteigne, James Murphy, George Webster and Glenn Davis, and another team made up of Tom Ditzenberger, Dan Battaglioli and Bill Cron. They each shot 61.
