Shawn Wethington sums up the need for hosting the 2026 Friendship Golf Tournament Scholarship Fundraiser as a “commitment to caring.”
The annual fundraiser, in its 14th year, is hosted by the Sophisticated Gents of Florida and The African American Club of The Villages as an all-day gathering to raise money for high school seniors attending Sumter, Lake and Marion county schools.
“We have a goal to continue our legacy,” said Wethington, Sophisticated Gents president and co-chair of the event. “The golf tournament has become something that means so much to the community and it means so much to the Gents as well. It shows year after year that we can come together as a community and strengthen the access to education in The Villages and surrounding areas.”
Wethington, who is organizing the event with the help of his wife and co-chair, Shaun, said the experience has become a ?? tradition.
“I believe this is an opportunity for students to move forward with being a productive individual in society,” Shawn said. “They are able to go off and gain knowledge that they pour back into the community, so it becomes a wonderful cycle. It’s also a joyous occasion for the golfers who come from all over the state and country as well. Every year, school alumni, members of the Divine Nine, educators and executives, we all come together in this as an effort to support the community and our students, regardless of their background.”
The tournament, which is open to the public, is scheduled for Oct. 24 at Harbor Hills Country Club, 6538 Lake Griffin Road, Lady Lake.
Activities will begin bright and early with sign-in starting at 7 a.m. Play will begin with a putting contest at 7:50 a.m. and a shotgun start at 8:15 a.m.
A lunch sponsored by Charter Research, a brief program and an awards ceremony will follow golfing. There will be chance drawings and door prizes during the event.
Entry fee for golfers is $100 per person, which includes lunch. For individuals not golfing but eating lunch, the entry fee is $25.
The African American Club of The Villages and the Sophisticated Gents of Florida have awarded 327 scholarships totaling $580,000 over the past 13 years. During the 13th annual scholarship luncheon on June 6, the organizations awarded a total of $78,000 in scholarships to 12 local graduating seniors and renewed scholarships for eight previous scholarship recipients.
The Wethingtons, of the Village of Mallory Square, agree that organizing the event is no easy feat, from getting together hundreds of golfers, securing sponsors and ensuring everyone enjoys themselves while supporting a good cause.
“It’s hard work,” said Shaun, who said TAAC and the Gents have raised at least $76,000 as of Oct. 6.
Sponsors of the event include Blackston Financial Advisory Group, the Food and Ankle Specialist of The Villages, Magnolia Dental and Irby Utilities.
“As two organizations coming together, we are making sure that we’re working together as a team with everybody doing their part so that we can have this scholarship event in the spring,” Shaun said. “It’s a great feeling to be able to help deserving students in getting the funds they need. Connecting with the students and supporting them helps give them the confidence they need to move forward and succeed in life. When you give high schoolers the tools and the funds to go to school, they come out and hopefully make the community a better place to live.”
The deadline to register for the tournament is Thursday. Visit https://sophisticatedgentsfl.org/Friendship-Golf-Tournament.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
