Winning team members in the SAC Celebrity Golf tournament, held June 14, are, from left, Dwight Horne, Tommy Tucker, George Williams and Stan Roberts. (Courtesy photo)

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Ed Bradley poses with his new Chevrole vehicle, secured after he sunk a hole-in-one in the SAC Celebrity Golf Tournament Friday. Go Automotive sponsored the hole-in-one and gave away the Chevy. (Courtesy photo)

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The Sampson Arts Council’s fourth annual Celebrity Golf Tournament was held Friday, June 14 at Coharie Country Club with 104 golfers, including 18 celebrities.

A “Meet and Greet” reception was held Thursday, June 13 at the Victor R. Small House for sponsors, celebrity athletes, golfers and their spouses.

Kara Donatelli, Arts Council executive director, offered her thanks to the celebrity athletes who supported this event, including, she said, Roman Gabriel, Roman Gabriel III, Billy Ray Barnes, Jeff Bostic, Steve Fine, Joe Bostic, and Bob Lewis to name a few.

“Many, many thanks to our major sponsors McDonald’s/Caison Enterprises, Ribeyes, Go Automotive, Matthews Drug, Waste Industries, US Foods and Hog Slat. With a total of 132 local business and individual sponsors, we cannot thank the community enough for all the support we’ve received. This event was a huge success because of the dedication and hard work of our golf committee. Chaired by Debbie Roberts and Helen Kearns, 18 committee members did an amazing job organizing this event. We appreciate their strive to keep the Arts alive in Sampson County. Many thanks to Coharie Country Club Pro Dickie Walters and his crew for making this tournament a special event.”

The winning team in the tourney was Tommy Tucker, Stan Roberts, Dwight Horne and George Williams. Second place team consisted of Mike Ellis, Robie Simmons, Russ Cook and Fran Lerkens. Linda Wynn received closest to the hole on No. 6 and Bryan Donaldson on Hole No. 15.

To top the tournament off, Celebrity Athlete Ed Bradley made a Hole-in-One on hole No. 10 to receive a brand new Chevrolet from Go Automotive. “Bradley is a former linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and a pretty good golfer as well. What are the odds of making a hole-in-one you might ask? Well, according to the leading provider of hole-in-one insurance, the odds for an amateur golfer making a hole-in-one on a par three hole is 12,500 to 1. Many thanks to Steve Stefanovich, Chris Fann and the entire team at Go Automotive in Clinton for their support of the tournament,” Donatelli noted.

Funds raised from the Celebrity Golf Tournament support the Sampson Arts Council’s Summer Art Camp which provides students throughout Sampson County the opportunity to experience hands-on art experiences.

“Due to the success of this year’s tournament, we are able to offer three weeks of Art Camp in July, and 30 scholarships to select students,” the arts director said.

Funds raised also support arts programming throughout the year, such as Artist Receptions, Art For Lunch, Student Art Club and Sunday Happenings.

Spots are still available for Summer Art Camp, so please visit our website at www.sampsonarts.net for more information or call 910-596-2533.

“On behalf of the SAC Board of Directors, thanks again to everyone for making this a Hole-in-One event! We appreciate your support of the Arts in our community,” Donatelli stated.