Who's Your Champion
THE PLAYERS Championship
By: Amy Wilson

Wednesday morning of THE PLAYERS Championship was a special morning indeed!  The PGA TOUR Wives Association (PTWA) celebrated 20 years of service with a unique and moving event.  Twenty local community members, who share the PTWA ideal of giving back, were selected and honored as individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their community through their commitment, dedication and leadership.  They were honored by the Association with an awards breakfast and taken on a VIP private tour around THE PLAYERS Championship course.  This private tour went to places never before open to the public, and some places even the wives had never before seen!  The tours, led by PGA TOUR Ambassadors, went to the Scoring room, NBC Perch, Media Center, ShotLink trailer, Volunteer building, First Tee box, and the Clubhouse.

The morning was inspirational for both the wives and the Champions.  It was powerful to hear how these community members have taken their individual passions and made a difference locally.  Many of them had never before been recognized for their efforts, and the PTWA embraced the opportunity to be the first. 

Over 75 nominations were received, and listed below were the 20 Champions selected:

• Beth Berry, Volunteer, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, N FL Chapter
• Melissa Bianchi, Volunteer, Junior Women’s Club of St. Augustine
• Duane Brady, Youth, The Boys & Girls Club of St. Augustine FL Chapter
• Donna Deegan, Volunteer, The Donna Hicken Foundation
• Eugene “Gene” Dillard, Volunteer, The N FL Council, Boy Scouts of America
• Alexander Fast, Youth, Community PedsCare
• Dan Finch, Volunteer, First Coast Honor Air
• Ray Flemming, Volunteer, St. Andrew’s Lighthouse
• Cindy Funkhouser, Community Leader, Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry, Inc. (BEAM)
• Khristine Gray, Parent, Community Connections
• Shae Haag, Volunteer, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida
• Bridget Haines, Youth, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
• Clay “Trey” Henderson, Volunteer, Henderson Haven, Inc.
• Joyce A. Jones, Volunteer, Micah’s Place
• Officer Keith M. Jowers, Service Personnel, Communities in Schools
• Pat Kuhlman, Parent, Project S.O.S.
• Sherri Mixon, Parent, Children’s Home Society
• Phyllis Stubbs, Volunteer, Ronald McDonald House
• Leslie Weed, Volunteer, HEAL Foundation

Congratulations to all of the Champions for your contributions to your community!