Mason Tyrrell has had a difficult year since the area 12-year-old was diagnosed with stage IV anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a rare type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
But he’s battling hard and recent scans have been clear. Mason is back doing what he loves the most, playing video games and chess with friends, romping with his dogs and playing at Topgolf.
Tyrrell will further celebrate his progress at the Constellation Furyk & Friends PGA Tour Champions event next week at the Timuquana Country Club when he participates in an honorary tee shot to help open the first round of the tournament.
Each of its four years, the tournament has invited a guest to hit the first shot and Mason’s swing will highlight the Jim and Tabitha Furyk Foundation’s assistance to the Wolfson Children’s Hospital Family Links support program, which helps children and their families address health-related social conditions that impact the qualify of a child’s wellness.
Mason will hit the shot on Oct. 4 at the first tee at Timuquana prior to the first group of Champions Tour players.
“The diagnosis was a devastating blow to our family. The fear and uncertainty that accompanied Mason’s illness were overwhelming, but we found hope and strength in the incredible care provided by Wolfson Children’s Hospital and our dedicated team of oncologists from Nemours Children’s Health,” said Thomas Tyrell, Mason’s father, in a statement.
The staff at Wolfson Children’s guided Mason and his family through his treatment journey. The pediatric cancer care team, led by nationally recognized hematologist/oncologists, crafted a personalized treatment plan tailored to Mason’s specific needs.
For more information on the Family Links program, visit wolfsonchildrens.com/about/child-advocacy/access-to-social-services.
The Furyk & Friends tournament is in its fourth year at Timuquana. The tournament raised more than $3.5 million for charity in the first three years.
Side out: Creekside nips Beachside at Deerwood
It was the battle of schools named for land bordering bodies of water on Sept. 25 at the Deerwood Country Club.
Creekside senior Bryson Hughes won the individual competition with a 67 and teammate Charlie Hipp tied for fourth with a 72 to lead the Knights to a one-shot victory over Beachside in the Creekside Invitational.
Creekside finished at 1-over 289 in the team competition. Ponte Vedra (296) was third, followed by Nease (306) and Bolles (310). Episcopal and Providence (311) tied for sixth.
Jaspreet Kondal of Beachside finished second with a 68 and Ethan Tak of Nease was third with a 70. Jack Chung of Ponte Vedra and Aubrey Fellows of Episcopal joined Hipp at even par.
Beachside won the girls competition at 16-over 304, dispatching Bolles by seven shots. Ponte Vedra (320) was third.
Stella Moritz of Ponte Vedra won the individual with a 3-under 69. Sofia Rivera and Fiona Clancy of Beachside, Chloe McGrath of Bolles and Aspen Bikowski of Bartram Trail tied for second at even-par 72 and Grace Brefitt and Anaiya Nahar of Bolles tied at 1-over 73.
Mixed tournament set at Jacksonville Beach
The fifth annual Jax Beach Varsity Invitational will be Saturday at the Jacksonville Beach Golf Club, with the main competition bringing together the boys and girls teams from Beachside, Providence, Bolles, Ponte Vedra, Fletcher and Creekside are bringing their boys and girls teams to be counted towards one team score.
Bishop Kenny, Episcopal, Stanton and Nease are bringing their girls teams and St. John’s Country Day’s boys team will also be playing.
The 18-hole tournament will begin at noon with players going off Nos. 1 and 10. It is open to the public at no charge.
Players Championship announces 50K grants
The Players Championship is opening an application period for $50,000 through its Grant Program, recognizing the tournament’s 50th playing this year.
“As The Players looks back on five decades in Northeast Florida, it’s only right that we find a special way to give back to the community that has given so much to us,” Players executive director Lee Smith said in a statement. “These grants are our way of honoring this milestone and demonstrating our ongoing commitment to supporting the organizations that make a real difference in our hometown.”
The Players Grant Program is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that operate within Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties and align with The Players’ primary focus areas, including youth services, education, character development, health, wellness and sports and military support.
Applications for Grant Program opened on September 25 and will close on October 31. For information on how to apply, please visit theplayers.com and visit the community section in the main drop-down menu.
Lily Wachter wins in Plantation
Lily Wachter of St. Augustine won her second Florida Junior Tour 9–12-year-old event and posted her fourth finish among the top three in a row when she breezed to a six-shot victory in the Plantation Golf and Country Club Open. Wachter had rounds of 72-71–143, with Elize Nograbat of St. Johns (149) finishing second. Wachter has finished among the top six in all six FJT starts this season. … Stella Moritz of Ponte Vedra Beach closed strong and finished tied for second in the FJT 13-18 Vero Beach Open, at the Vero Beach Country Club. Moritz shot 70 in the final round for an even-par 144, two shots behind winner Krishny Elwin of Orlando. Sofia Rivera of St. Augustine (149) finish alone in eighth. … Bill Hardaker of Jacksonville and Mike Vallencourt of Orange Park tied for fifth in the FSGA Super-Senior Fourball at Panther Run in Ave Maria. They shot 68-69–137 and finished five shots behind winners Pete Williams of Jupiter and David Tassell and Juno Beach.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Mason Tyrrell will hit first tee shot at Timuquana to open Furyk & Friends
