More than 100 golfers gathered at the Nansemond River Golf Club to participate in the 23rd annual Treasurer’s United Way Golf Tournament last Friday.

The tournament was rescheduled due to Hurricane Florence, and the rain date featured perfect weather.

“We just thank God for blessing us with this weather, and we are thankful for this beautiful day,” said Treasurer Ron Williams.

Since the hurricane shifted paths and hit North Carolina rather than Hampton Roads, Williams decided to donate $1,000 of the donations to North Carolina hurricane relief.

The money raised for the United Way will be designated to 14 different organizations, and for the 23rd year of the event, they provided a $23,000 check to the United Way.

“I’ve been supporting the United Way for almost 50 years, and I believe the best thing is to help the most people that I can,” Williams said.

Williams wants to help support United Way agencies that directly impact the city of Suffolk.

“We donate money to places that serve Suffolk. We’ve had some good success stories, because we’ve been able to step up and help,” Williams said.

Williams is pleased with the strides that have been made in some of the organizations that receive donations from the golf tournament, like the Sickle Cell Association.

“The Sickle Cell Association has been making great strides, and the first $1,500 we raise goes to the Sickle Cell Association,” Williams said.

The Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute will also receive funds from the golf tournament, and the organization has a personal connection to Williams.

Williams had previously suffered from prostate cancer, and he received treatment at Hampton University.

“I went through prostate cancer and received treatment at the Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute, and we try and support them as well,” Williams said.

Before the tournament began, golfers purchased a set of three golf balls in the hopes of winning $500. Williams flew up in a helicopter with Hampton Roads Helicopters and dropped an entire bucket of balls towards the flag, and the closest ball to the flag was the winner.

The money raised for the tournament will help many local organizations including Suffolk Unit of the Boys and Girls Club, the Western Tidewater Free Clinic, Suffolk Meals on Wheels, the Suffolk Education Foundation, Suffolk Crime Line, the Suffolk Ruritan Club’s Wounded Warriors fundraising initiatives, Suffolk Sickle Cell Inc., the Genieve Shelter, Suffolk Salvation Army, the Colonial Trail District of the Boy Scouts of America, King’s Kids of America, the Coalition Against Poverty in Suffolk and the Hampton University Proton Therapy Center.

Winner of the tournament:

• First Flight, First Place: Jerry Kent, David Szymanski, Chris Szymanski and Mark Patterson
• First Flight, Second Place: Jami Holt, Cam Middleton and Donnie Harrington
• Second Flight, First Place: Lindsey Martin, Will Pusey, Jeff Alferd and Ron Pusey
• Second Flight, Second Place: Victor Vanuzuela, Jessie Snead, Marquis Alston and Tim Dean
• Third Flight, First Place: Bobby Sears, Kevin Barney, Peter Finkenauer and Joey Holland
• Third Flight, Second Place: Kevin Will, Mark Popick, Phil McPhail and Reggie Carter
• Longest Drive on Hole No. 9: Scott Plum
• Longest Drive on Hole No. 18: Bobby Sears
• Closest to the Pin on Hole No. 2: Adam Rountree
• Closest to the Pin on Hole No. 16: Cam Middleton
• Putting Contest Winner: Lindsey Martin
• Helicopter Golf Ball Drop: Travis Chitwood