Watauga-Ashe-Wilkes Golf Tournament this week

The 13th annual Watauga-Ashe-Wilkes Golf Tournament will take place Thursday, Sept. 12, at Jefferson Landing in Jefferson.

The annual tournament is the primary fundraiser for the Watauga-Ashe-Wilkes Scholarship, organized in 2001 by Phil Stevens, who has ties in all three counties. “I grew up on the Watauga County side of Todd, attended Beaver Creek High School in Ashe County and enjoyed a career at Lowe’s Companies,” he said. “My background and history give me a strong appreciation for this region, and there is no better way to ensure the successful future of these counties than by investing in the young adults who call this place home,” he said.

The competitive scholarship, which emphasizes financial need, annually awards $2,000 to graduating seniors in each of the named counties and is renewable for up to three additional years. The scholarship endowment’s board selects up to five recipients each year. Aside from Stevens, board members include Kim Barnes, Bradley McNeil, Charles Hartzog, Danny Holman, Michael Lyall, Daphne Petrey and Allison Phillips. More than $250,000 has been awarded to over 50 students since the scholarship’s inception.

The annual golf tournament is the scholarship’s principal fundraising event. The format is Captain’s Choice, with four-player teams. Player registration is $125. Hole sponsorship is $100. The event sponsor is Valspar, Inc. Other sponsors include Novant Health (VIP Dinner), 3M, Lowe’s, Modern Toyota, Wells Fargo, Werner Ladder, Window World and QEP. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams, for the longest drive and the closest to the hole (par 3’s). The first person to make a hole-in-one on the designated par 3 will win a new Toyota.

The scholarship fund is managed by the North Carolina Community Foundation, with affiliate foundations in all three counties.

Those interested in making a contribution or including the Watauga-Ashe-Wilkes Scholarship Fund in their estate planning should contact Phil Stevens at 336-669-3545; or email John Francis, NCCF regional associate, or call him at 336-745-1739.

For more information about the Watauga-Ashe-Wilkes Scholarship visit this website.