Golf legend and singing star Don Cherry, recently hosted a golf tournament at Countryside Country Club in Clearwater in conjunction with his appearance at the Palladium Theatre on February 8th. Both events took place as a benefit for the American Lung Association of Gulfcoast Florida and were sponsored by Humana MarketPoint and Jim Beam.

By the day of the tournament, our mild and dry Florida weather had deserted us and those playing in the tournament were greeted by a blustery, cold and rainy day. Not to be daunted, however, the majority of those signed up elected to play the tournament anyway. Among the celebrity players in attendance were the tournaments name sake Don Cherry, PGA touring pro Doug Sanders, country singing star Jim Owen who starred as Hank Williams in the Emmy Award winning television story of Hank’s life, Miss Armed Forces Sandy O’Hara, noted artist Bud Chapman, the 1963 World Cup Champion Al Balding, and Mike Souchak, a regular on the Golf Channel who held the scoring record for the best consecutive 4 rounds of golf for over 40 years. John Cook finally broke that record in 2000.

After 5 holes, as the rain became a torrent, it was decided to make the tournament a 9 hole event in order to preserve the greens and for the well being of the players.

Following the tournament, the banquet and awards ceremony went off without a hitch thanks to the efforts of the tournament organizers Norm and Sandy Alexander. One of the highlights of the ceremony being the auctioning of one of Jack Nicklaus’s personal golf bags which he had used in several tournaments and which Jack donated for the occasion. The management and staff of Countryside Country Club need be commended as well. They went out of their way to accommodate the more than 100 players and guests by rearranging the previously arranged schedule for the serving of the banquet food. Somehow they managed to serve a delicious meal with a choice of entrees, some two hours earlier than originally planned.

Don Cherry had made his commitment to the American Lung Association to lend his name to the fund raising golf tournament and to present this concert over a year ago and he more than fulfilled his commitment. He sang his heart out on this night, his first concert since his son Stephen Patrick Cherry was killed during the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center. Don dedicated this night and this concert to Stephen. Prior to the curtain going up, the Pinellas County Veterans Liaison Council Honor Guard posted our nation’s Colors on stage in honor of Stephen and in honor of all of those who lost their lives during the “Attack On America”. Although there was sadness felt by all in attendance; performers, musicians and audience alike, because of Don’s loss, Don insisted that on this night we should celebrate Stephen’s life and that Stephen be remembered as a special son, a devoted husband, and loving father who went through life with a perpetual smile on his face. As the MC of the show I was supposed to open with some comedy as an audience warm-up but Ijust couldn’t bring myself to be funny this night. Don understood and allowed me to open the show reading a beautiful and touching verse written by Johnny Cash entitled “That Ragged Old Flag”. Jerry Adler, the harmonica virtuoso who has played on a number of motion picture sound tracks and has appeared on every major television variety show as well as having performed for royalty and heads of state, then took over the stage backed by Bob Boyd and the 42nd Street Trio. Jerry wowed the audience for a full 40 minutes, garnering several standing ovations. Then it was Don Cherry’s turn and he took over right where Jerry left off, bringing the audience to its feet time after time as he went through his repertoire of hit recordings. Among those hits, “Band Of Gold”, “Green, Green Grass Of Home”, “Mona Lisa”, and “Take A Message To Mary” had the audience clamoring for more. When Don closed the show some 50 minutes later with “God Bless The USA” and the PCVLC Honor Guard retired the Colors, the feeling of patriotism was such that I have not witnessed since World War Two. What a night, what talent, what strength exhibited by a grieving father.

NOTE: To obtain information or to participate in the “Stephen Patrick Cherry Memorial Fountain” to be erected in front of the American Lung Association building in St. Petersburg, contact Norm Alexander. Thus far $20,000.00 has been raised to offset the total construction cost of $50,000.00. Although this memorial is to be named “The Stephen Patrick Cherry Memorial Fountain”, the purpose of this memorial is to honor all of those killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Donors will have their name included on the memorial plaque along with Jack Nicklaus and others of note.

-Dave Hanson, Golf Editor