Local centers of enlightenment as well as deserving area students will benefit from the proceeds raised through Thursday’s Watauga-Ashe-Wilkes Scholarship Golf Tournament at Jefferson Landing.

Approximately 72 players teed off on the professional grade golf course which was blanketed by a light layer of dew as the sun began to rise over the peaks of the surrounding Highlands in Jefferson.

Valspar Paints was the event sponsor and Tyson, Wachovia, BB&T, Emser Tile, and Werner Ladder Co. along with many other corporations contributed funding.

The overall goal for the 8th annual event was to raise approximately $130,000 to assist in various projects and scholarships to high schools in each of the sponsored counties. Of the funds raised through Thursday’s event, $10,000 will be donated to the Ashe County Public Library for the construction of a computer lab which will be a major addition under the library’s expansion project.

Tournament Chairperson Phil Stevens commented on the overall success of the tournament as well as the support they have received from the organization’s various sponsors.

“It has been a great tournament and we have had a lot of corporate support from Lowe’s and the heads of various other corporations,” Stevens said. “Without the generous support of our sponsors, this event or the scholarships we award would not be possible.”

Prior to tee off, Stevens honored the event’s sponsors as commemorative plaques were presented to some of the contributors. Ken Huff, a former wide receiver for the former Baltimore Colts who dazzled many defensive secondarys while at North Carolina, was the featured celebrity at Thursday’s fundraiser and was presented with a commemorative plaque as well.

Following presentations and a group photograph, the golfers began to mass on the green for the 9 a.m. tee off. Thursday’s event followed a shotgun format in which all 18 groups of players teed off at a different hole simultaneously. The advantage of such a format is that it allows the tournament to conclude at the same time it requires a group of four to finish a complete game of golf.

Following the full round of golf, a putting contest was held to test the patience and finesse of players as the golfer who could sink a lengthy put would win a cash prize of $2,000.

The complete results from Thursday’s event and total funds raised are expected to be released later this week.