Photos by: Maryann Ketchum
Three local sheriff’s teams and three teams of veterans were among the 192 participants on the course at the Seventh Annual Sporting Clay Tournament held on Saturday, February 25th at OK Corral Gun Club in Okeechobee to benefit Treasure Coast Hospice.
St. Lucie, Martin and Okeechobee Sheriffs’ Offices each entered a team, sponsored by community businesses, that competed for the first ever Treasure Coast Hospice Sheriff’s Cup, sponsored by SPI-Armor. The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Team, comprised of Lt. Robert Pettit, Sgt. Benjamin Cuevas, III, and Deputies Troy Schlicht and Ethan Kirk, sponsored by HBK CPAs & Consultants/HBKS Wealth Advisors, brought home the trophy.
Deputy Noah Wenrick from the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office received the Top Gun Award, sponsored by Commonwealth Ammunition, for the highest scoring sheriff. The Okeechobee team was sponsored by Adron Fence Co. The Martin County team was sponsored by Martin Funeral Home and Crematory.
Tactical Experience instructors from St. Lucie, Okeechobee and Martin County Sheriff’s Offices.
Martin Funeral Home also sponsored a team of Treasure Coast Hospice Veteran-to-Veteran volunteers. Southern Eagle Distributing sponsored a team from DDS4Vets and Michael Lazarus hosted a team of local Vietnam Veterans. All six teams were given the royal treatment working through the course in golf carts decked out to honor each for their service to our community and country.
“We are grateful for the sacrifice made by our veterans and sheriffs every day to protect and keep us safe,” said event coordinator Agnes Palmer, manager of philanthropic partnerships at Treasure Coast Hospice. “It was an honor to be able to have them participate in the event because of the generosity of local businesses.”
Saturday’s tournament was part of a two-day experience to raise funds for hospice and grief support services offered by Treasure Coast Hospice. Friday, under the direction of Cuevas and Schlicht, instructors from all three sheriffs’ offices led the tactical training experience portion of the event. Guests rotated between seven stations trying their hand at pistol accuracy, rifle manipulation, active shooter scenarios and more.
Shown with Treasure Coast Hospice veteran volunteer Wayne Hanners, Angel Robertson from Congressman Brian Mast’s office stopped by to deliver a thank you to the veterans and sheriffs.
