Leland, Leland, Hart & Savage win Firefighters for Fairways

The 9th Annual Fairways for Firefighters Golf Tournament to benefit the Onancock Volunteer Department was held Saturday, July 12 at the Eastern Shore Yacht & Country Club with 74 golfers participating in what is always one of the most fun benefit tournaments of the year.

Dorine Ross, who with Brenda James and Beverly Misuna, handled most of the arrangements, said the tournament was “a fantastic success” despite being delayed a day by weather.

“We lost about nine teams because of weekend plans for many golfers who planned to play on Friday, but we still think we will raise about $15,000 for the fire department, and everyone seemed to have a good time. The staff at the Eastern Shore Yacht & Country Club did an excellent job of getting the course ready after heavy rains earlier in the week.”

Ross, whose husband Rickie is a 45-year volunteer with the Onancock Fire Department as well as a retired 25-year veteran of the paid Virginia Beach Fire Department, stepped up to run the tournament with James and Misuna after longtime director Adam James moved out of the area due to a promotion in his banking career.

“It was a real team effort,’ said Ross. “We get many participants who don’t play much golf but want to support the fire department.

Ross said the upcoming Croaker Tournament on Aug. 2 should raise an additional $20,000 for the fire department, much needed funds for the increasing cost of equipping a modern firehouse.

The foursome of Will Leland, Brock Leland, Andrew Hart and Carson Savage won the tournament with a 51 in the advanced best ball format while the team of Jeff Kelly, Jarret Sturgis, Tony Bradey and Bobby Hoag was second with a 53. Sam Richardson, Cody Britton, Todd Mathews and Toby Tapman finished third with a 55.