FCC Behavioral Health holds ninth annual 'Fore Wellness' Golf Tournament

KENNETT – FCC Behavioral Health hosted its ninth annual “Fore Wellness” Golf Tournament to raise funds for the Kennett Humane Department at Kennett Country Club on Thursday, June 1, 2023.

The four person scramble has raised money for various organizations over the years, including Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) in 2022 and the Kennett Fire Department in 2021. Following last year's tournament, FCC was able to donate $10,000 to CASA.

With 24 teams and 96 total golfers, and one of the largest turnouts in the tournament's history, FCC hopes to at least match that amount this year with the goal of funding all new kennels to the Kennett Humane Department.

FCC Behavioral Health CEO Randy Ray explained that upon the tournaments inception, funds raised went toward their own programs, but they have since branched out to become more of a “community company.”

“I think it's important to support them,” Ray said. “Many people use animals, especially dogs, as service animals and for emotional support. Anything we can do to build up the community and show that we're there for them.”

FCC Public Relations Officer Craig Jameson said that after four years of supporting deserving organizations, the company has no plans of slowing down.

“We're going on four years, and each time we've given at least $10,000 to each organization,” FCC Public Relations Officer Craig Jameson said. “We're hoping to do the same thing this year.”

At the tournament, among many hole sponsorships and opportunities to win various prizes, one competitor had the chance of winning $40,000 toward purchasing any Glen Sain Chevrolet GMC vehicle.

FCC employee Cindy Jackson drops hundreds of golf balls from atop a Kennett Fire Department ladder truck during the annual "Fore Wellness" Golf Tournament.Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

“We also have a ball drop, which allows someone to win $5,000, and we have the silent auction and several games to get people involved like mulligans, Texas tees, shortest and longest drives,” Jameson said. “We want to get people involved.”

In the A-Flight, Minton, Minton and Allied Furniture took first place. In the B-Flight, Gunter, Gunter, Johnson and Smith took first place, and in the C-Flight, Ellis, Ellis, Wallace and Cunningham came out on top.

As Cindy Jackson ascended a Kennett Fire Department ladder 100 feet into the air to drop hundreds of golf balls, Randy Woodard's lucky ball found a hole in one to win. Patrick McHaney won the longest putt contest, Ray Nickle won the closest to pin contest, Reed Wingo won the longest drive contest, and Eric Williams won the putting contest.

“We have a lot of local sponsors and vendors,” Jameson said, “and this is something that I think has really helped the community come together.”