Yesterday the Middle Tennessee Golf Regional was a spectacular event from top to bottom. The event was held in Murfreesboro at the Old Fort Golf Club. The course was beautiful, and our athletes and the Unified Partners had a wonderful time playing. The event featured skills, individual 18-hole, Unified 18-hole, individual 9-hole and Unified 9-hole.
Ronnie Vaughn and Jack Buck from Fayetteville, Tennessee have been playing golf together for the past five years and have enjoyed their time with the sport. Ronnie Vaughn has been playing for twenty years and his Unified Partner, Jack Buck has been playing for the past seven years.
"Just coming out with the athletes and working with him and watching when they hit a ball when it's so much fun," said Buck. "It's just a pleasure being here with these guys."
Vaughn was looking to make good contact with the ball and finish strong.
"I'm looking to hit a good golf ball," said Vaughn. "And hit it straight. And win the gold."
The Unified Pair have traveled together to play multiple courses for Special Olympics Tennessee events. They've played in Chattanooga, Sevierville and countless others.
“It's just fun seeing the new courses and seeing how they played and trying to do better than you did the year before last,” said Buck. This embodies the entire event as athletes were just out on the course for the love of the game."
But, what stands out the most are the memories made with athletes and friends.
"This is fun," said Buck. "Coming up here and meeting everybody. You see people over and over again. You get to know them. You get me you make friends. And it's an excellent experience. It really is. You cherish the memories for a long, long time."
"You get along with other people and thank you for letting us play," said Vaughn with some parting words.
One last thank you to all athletes for showing great sportsmanship and to Old Fort Golf Club for letting Special Olympics Tennessee use their facilities.
