On Saturday, the running engines of golf carts were heard across the L.E. Ramey Golf Course of Kingsville. More than 50 golfers arrived at the course to play at the 2nd Annual Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) Golf Tournament. Community members, families, police officers, TAMUK alumni, and students brought out their best golf equipment for a chance to win.
The sunny weather was a significant contrast to last year’s tournament. Stefanie Gray, head golf coach of the Javelina program, said last year brought unfavorable weather conditions because of Hurricane Harvey.
“Today is the one-year anniversary of [Hurricane] Harvey. Literally, it hit the day before our fundraiser…we had to cancel and move it to October. So now, this is so much better,” Gray said.
Gray began planning the tournament months in advance. She said the city helped with the planning and promotional material. In eight months, the city set up new irrigation systems, placed new greens and built 26 new sand traps at the L.E. Ramey Golf Course, just in time for the tournament to have fresh grass and healthy greens.
The tournament had a four-man best ball game format and gave prizes ranging from Javelina golf t-shirts and bags. All proceeds and money raised by the tournament went to the Javelina golf teams. Gray expects the tournament raised approximately $5,000, double the amount raised last year.
With 14 teams registering for the event, there was a variety of players from different backgrounds with different levels of golf experience.
Brittany Rodriguez and Jessica Sellers, TAMUK alumni and former members of the Javelina women’s golf team, saw growth in the golf program.
“It’s a lot different playing now for fun, we’ve always been competitive since high school and in college. It’s definitely a change of scenery,” Sellers said.
Golfer Abigail Willcoxon participated in the tournament in a team consisting of Tim Miller, TAMUK Assistant Track and Field coach, Brianna Jeffers, and her dad Kirk Willcoxon. Abigail Willcoxon says her family has been really supportive of the tournament and revealed that despite having recent surgery, her dad decided to participate in the tournament.
“It’s been a while. I’ve had multiple surgeries, but finally have new clubs and everything, and just starting back,” Kirk Willcoxon said.
Gray gives credit to the current players of the Javelina women’s golf team for making the event possible.
“My girls last year, the first year that I was here, said ‘hey coach, why don’t we do some sort of fundraiser? Why don’t we try to raise some money?’ I thought, ‘Nah, I’ve only been here a year, I don’t want to get into that,’” Gray said.
However, after much persistence from her players and recent budget cutbacks, Gray decided to go ahead with a 2nd golf tournament fundraiser.
Bianca Silerio, a senior and golf player for TAMUK, spoke fondly of the golf program.
“My first memory coming to school here is meeting the team. We’re all super close and really good friends, and I really enjoy that. You hear from other teams that say they are not friends, but my best friends are right here,” Silerio said.
