Following a two-week delay due to weather, the Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation held its 2026 Fall Golf Classic on Saturday, September 26, at Woodland Hills Golf Course in Fort Scott. The tournament’s original date was September 12, but extreme weather conditions pushed it back two weeks.
Play began at 9 a.m. with eight teams competing in the 4-person scramble tournament. Prizes were awarded for 1st and 2nd place in both A Flight and B Flight. The winners were:
- A Flight 1st Place — Labconco team: Ronnie Marsh, Shawn Marshall, Shayne Johnson, and Travis Schilling
- A Flight 2nd Place — Jay Fowler, Kyle Fowler, John Staton, and Mike Bodensteiner
- B Flight 1st Place — Bill Fiscus, Braden Robinson, Cadence Hull, and Newt Reed
- B Flight 2nd Place — Sheryl Gauss, Jake Harvey, Blaine Ross, and Justin Harvey
Prizes were also given for Closest to the Pin, won by Shawn Marshall, and Longest Drive, won by Braden Robinson.
Players also had the opportunity to try their luck with several contests and games, including Paul Bunyan on Hole 16 and Hole in One on Hole 11. Each team received a “grenade” to use during play. The popular Orange Ball Contest returned as well — teams tried to bring back their specially marked golf balls at the end of the tournament. Four teams succeeded and were entered into a drawing for Tri-Valley travel mugs: Drake Anderson, Beau Kincaid, Joey Haskett, and Evan Strange.
Lunch consisted of freshly made sandwiches from Marsha’s Deli. At the end of the tournament, door prizes were awarded to several lucky golfers, and two raffle drawings were held. The 50/50 raffle was won by Ron Query. Prize raffle winners included:
- Sheryl Gauss — “Blessed” metal yard sign from Niece Products
- Terry Pruitt — Igloo cooler backpack, courtesy of SEK Financial Services
- Sheryl Gauss — cooler backpack
- Sheryl Gauss — $100 gift certificate to Holmtown Pub
- Justin Harvey — box of Pro V1 Titleist golf balls
- Chuck Thompson — box of Pro V1 Titleist golf balls
The tournament’s corporate sponsor was Tarrytown Pharmacy. Hole sponsors included Citizen’s Bank, Cheney Witt Chapel, Enterprise Fleet Management, Hole in the Wall Liquor Store, Holmtown Pub, Lyons Realty Group, and Peerless Products. Door prize sponsors included Holmtown Pub, Kale Nelson State Farm, After Effect Salon, Heidrick Tru Value, Brigg’s Auto, SEK Financial Services, Niece Products of Kansas, Ruddick’s Furniture, KMOB, and Hugo’s Industrial Supply.
All proceeds from the event support the Foundation’s mission of providing quality, affordable homes for neighbors with intellectual/developmental disabilities across eight counties: Allen, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson. Since 2001, the Foundation has built six houses and acquired ten houses and a duplex. Five of these homes are located in Fort Scott and are home to 26 individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
“Without the generosity of our communities, this fun event could not have been held. Thank you to all the golfers who participated as well as to our event sponsors: corporate, hole, and in-kind. It is friends like you that allow us to provide services to our neighbors with I/DD and to help them achieve the quality of life they seek. Thank you,” said Special Projects Coordinator Tricia Campbell.