By BOBBIE GREEN
The Progress
The 2nd annual Best of the Best First Responders Charity Golf Tournament was held on Saturday, June 25 at the Conestoga Golf Course in Mesquite. It was another great success story.
The fundraiser tournament was the brainchild of Mark Yardley, owner of the Eagle’s Landing truckstop company. Yardley has said that he wanted to do something for the local first responders to recognize all that they do for the communities where Eagle’s Landing operates.
The first tournament held in May of 2021 with a partnership between Yardley and Mark Whetzel Manager of the Conestoga Golf Course. At that tournament, there were six teams of five players. The outcome was the Mesquite Police Department and the Mesquite Fire Department each received a check for $3,700 to spend outside their usual operating budget for needed items. The Fire Department purchased four new “Jaws of Life” saws. The police department purchased a massage chair to help officers with stress-related conditions.
Mesquite Eagle’s Landing manager Kenny Huff, working again with Whetzel and Spencer Lewis of the Mesquite Fire Department promoted an even larger turnout this year. On Saturday, there were twelve teams of 5 players at $300 per person entry fee.
The winning team in the tournament received $6,000. Winning team members were, John Lindsay, Brock Nielsen, Triston Gardner, Davis Heslington, and Spencer Wallace.
There were also a number of great prize winners in tournament. Cam Hamill got closest to the pin, on hole two. He received a 75” Flat screen TV. Ian Ence won the Longest Drive and got a $200 gift certificate.
It was a beautiful morning, with no wind, as the golfers gathered outside the Conestoga Club house for a short patriotic Flag ceremony. The Police and Fire Volunteer Honor Guard presented the colors. The beautiful voice of Shea Whipple was featured singing the Star-Spangled Banner.
“I do this because it is about our police and fire departments and they deserve to be recognized,” said Huff at the ceremony. “What we give them helps to buy items beyond their limited budgets.”
“We could not have done this without the phenomenal help from Mark Whetzel,” Huff added.
Proceeds of the tournament will be given out to the Police and Fire Departments at an upcoming City Council Meeting, date to be determined.
Many of the teams participating in the tournament were business-related teams of Eagle’s Landing. One of the teams came from Ohio.
The Progress talked with team members from the Jack Link’s Beef Jerky Company. Luck Barnes said “We had a great time out there. The food was great, the drinks were great and everything was wonderful. We will come back to play again”
George Valdez said, “It was a fun day and it is for a good cause. I liked the Flag Ceremony.”
The fire department provided carne asada tacos and the Yardley Steakburgers food truck was there serving up burgers. Break Thru Beverage provided adult beverages.
Leonora Hutchens was in charge of recruiting volunteers and scorekeepers for the tournament. She said there was no problem getting the eighteen volunteers needed.
Volunteers Cindy and Ken Meacham, who wearing colorful matching shirts, said that it is a pleasure to help because it is such a good cause to be involved with.
Huff thanked all the volunteers; City Council members Karen Dutkowski, Sandra Ramaker, Brian Wursten; the Mesquite Showgirls and everyone else who helped with the tournament.
Huff announced next year’s tournament would be on June 3, 2023. He received a loud response from participants indicating they would return.
