Celebration of Golf banquet honors veteran rules official Tommy Dudley, past USGA champions
The eighth First Coast Celebration of Golf Banquet was a tribute to United States Golf Association volunteers and champions, with a sold-out room of more than 250 at the Timuquana Country Club.
Tommy Dudley, who has been a USGA rules official for five decades and is a past president of Timuquana and the Florida State Golf Association was presented with the Deane Beman Award, named for the former PGA Tour commissioner and presented annually for service to First Coast Golf.
The banquet brings together constituents from the First Coast golf community to recognize and honor those who have made contributions to area golf, both on the course and off.
Dudley is an example. He has officiated more than 100 national USGA championships but also has been a rules official for FSGA and Jacksonville Area Golf Association events. He also has been available for area pros and amateur players to consult about rules.
Dudley received the 2019 Joe Dey Award, the USGA’s highest award for a volunteer. He is a member of the FSGA Hall of Fame.
Also honored was Tama Caldabaugh as the Jacksonville Women’s Association 2022-23 player of the year.
First Coast residents who were past USGA national champions were invited to attend. Those who attended with Jim Furyk (2003 U.S. Open and 2021 U.S. Senior Open), Fred Funk (2009 U.S. Senior Open), Bob Dickson (1967 U.S. Amateur), Carolyn Creekmore (2004 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur), David Eger (1988 U.S. Mid-Amateur) and Greg Reynolds (2002 U.S. Senior Men’s Amateur).
The banquet was co-sponsored and organized by the Jacksonville Area Golf Association and the Northern Chapter of the North Florida PGA, with the support of the Jacksonville Women’s Golf Association and the North Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association. Circle K is the presenting sponsor.
Net proceeds from the banquet of approximately $10,000 will be presented to the JAGA Scholarship Trust program, which awards scholarships to college-bound area students.
Middle School program reaches 15th year
The North Florida Junior Golf Foundation is hosting its Middle School program for the 15th year, beginning with a kickoff gathering on March 4 at the TPC Sawgrass.
More than 150 middle school students from 13 Duval County middle schools will participate. Those who attend the kickoff will be given a tour of the facility, guided by the TPC Story Tellers. The students also will walk various holes and learn about golf etiquette and rules.
Participating schools are Darnell Cookman, Fletcher, James Weldon, Joseph Stilwell, Lakeshore, Kernan, Mayport Coastal Science, Sacred Heart, Saint Joseph’s, San Juan del Rio, Twin Lakes, St. Pauls and Westside.
There will be an eight-to-12-week program where students will learn the fundamentals of golf at the participating courses (Bent Creek, Blue Cypress, Blue Sky, Brentwood, Deercreek, Jax Beach, Magnolia Point, Marsh Landing, The Yards, TPC Sawgrass, UNF Golf Plex and Windsor Parke).
The program is funded by Players Championship charity ticket sales and grants from the Florida Junior Golf Council.
FSGA results: Graham Nichols wins
Graham Nichols of Jacksonville shot 77-74—151 under difficult weather conditions last week to win the Mid-Amateur division of a Florida State Golf Association Mid-Winter Series event at the Mission Inn Resort. He won by six shots over Brandon Mourges of St. Augustine and Brian Bassett of Naples, with Vincent Scarpetta of Ponte Vedra Beach (160) tying for fourth.
Jeff Kaufman of Ponte Vedra Beach (153) was solo fourth in the senior division, Brian King (154) of Fernandina Beach was alone in fifth, Steve Pitts (155) of Ponte Vedra tied for sixth and Chris Wilson (157) of Fleming Island tied for ninth.
Harry Black of St. Augustine (149) tied for second in the super-senior division.
FJT results: Sofia Rivera cruises
Sofia Rivera of St. Augustine shot 5-over 149 at the Capital City Club and won the Capital City Open 13-15 Florida Junior Tour event by five shots over Elys Meerdink of Tampa. Stella Moritz of Ponte Vedra Beach and Sahanna Chokshi of Jacksonville (157) tied for fifth.
In the boys division, Maxwell Morgan of Ponte Vedra lost to Shayaan Kim of Rockledge on the first playoff hole after both tied in regulation at even-par 144. Cooper Franklin of Ponte Vedra (145) finished third, Ambrose Kinnare (146) of St. Augustine was fourth and Charlie Hipp (147) of St. Johns was fifth.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Tommy Dudley, veteran USGA rules officials, honored with Deane Beman Award
