The winner of the Golf Body Fitness Invitational was the team of Todd Whitehead, Parker Fain, Nick Willis and Will Mathis.

The Golf Body Fitness Invitational was held to benefit the First Tee of the Upstate and the RezMissions. The captain’s choice tournament included 22 teams and was played at the Carolina Country Club.

“This tournament is going to help us continue our mission to help kids and invest in quality growth for The First Tee of the Upstate,” said the groups Executive Director Michael Pius. “We are going to be able to develop more coaches who have the knowledge to teach the lessons that are a part of The First Tee the right way,” he said.

The tournament was the idea of Jonathan Seymour of Golf Body Fitness in Spartanburg. Seymour recognized the benefits of The First Tee program and developed the tournament. A part of the proceeds goes to the Resurrection Church to help with their mission work.

Silent auction items up for bid included autographed sports items.

“For the first tournament I think we were able to deliver a quality event for all the players,” he said. “We had a very good day on the golf course and a great experience at the club. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves and will come back again,” said Seymour.

PGA Tour veteran Ben Martin played in the tournament to help support the Upstate First Tee program.

“I didn’t have the First Tee when I was growing up in Greenwood,” said Martin. “I think it is great because there are so  many great lessons you can learn from golf, and The First Tee does a great job with that,” said Martin.

In addition to the money raised from the team entries a large silent auction was available for the participants. Items up for bids ranged from autograph footballs from Clemson’s Dabo Swinney to 18 holes of golf with are PGA Tour players. Trips to famous golf courses and special services from area business all helped the tournament raise funds.

On the golf course the competition for the top spot ended in a tie that was broken with a scorecard playoff.

The team of Nick Willis, Parker Fain, Will Mathis and Todd Whitehead shot a 16-under par 56. The team of Ron Rassmussen, Scott Ferrell, David Glenn and Charles Warren matched the score, but an eagle on the designated playoff hole gave the win to the team of Willis, Fain, Mathis and Whitehead.

Information about The First Tee of the Upstate is available at http://www.thefirstteeupstate.org.