Saturday, Dec. 20, was a beautiful day for all 144 golfers at the 8th JAGA Family Championship hosted by Jax Beach Golf Club, but even more so for the father-son team of Jeremy and Evan Raynor, who took home the gross family title for the second year in a row.
With equal waves of golfers teeing off at 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., the Raynors successfully defended their Family Championship title of last December, firing a 6-under-par 52 over the modified Jax Beach GC layout. They were declared champions on a match of scorecards. Evan is a Bishop Kenny High School graduate who is now a freshman member of the Jacksonville University golf team.
Tama and K.C. Caldabaugh of The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach were the gross winners in Couples’ play with a score of 54.
As a means of completing two waves of 18 holes on the second shortest day of the year and accommodating players ranging in age from 10 to 80, the 18 holes were set up to play to a unique par of 58. There were 14 par 3s and four par 4s.
Between the end of morning play and the start of the afternoon wave World Golf Hall of Fame and PGA Hall of Fame member Dennis Walters entertained an audience of more than 100 with his world-famous trick-shot artistry. As always, he was joined by his faithful companion, fellow show star, and beloved dog, Gussie.
Often referred to as “the most inspiring golfer of all time,” Walters has given more than 3,500 exhibitions from the seat of a golf cart since breaking his back in a golf cart accident in 1974 in his home state of New Jersey, shattering his dream of playing on the PGA Tour. He gave a fabulous show that not only demonstrated his talent and love of golf but communicated a message of never giving up on one’s dreams.
In addition to the golf, there was a Best Holiday Attire competition with Joe and Hilary Watson sharing the honors with Dr. Lakshmi Gopel and children Leela and Krishna Clark.
Ten current/former JAGA scholarship award recipients were on hand to spend the day with their many JAGA friends and The Family Championship participants.
The following are the leading morning and afternoon finishers:
Morning Play
Couples Gross Winners: Tama & K.C. Caldabaugh (54) Couples Net Winners: Kristen & Adam Schupak (53) Family Gross:
1st – Keith & Austin Bratton (50) 2nd – Stephen & Nancy Cox (51) 3rd – Allison & Addy Vogt (51) Family Net:
1st – Allan & Sonny MacCurrach (48) 2nd – Bruce & Jamie Kanehl (48) 3rd – John & Jack Driscoll (49) Afternoon Play
Couples Gross:
1st – Jane & Brad Rollinson (56) 2nd – Susan and Jay Waite (59) 3rd – Rick & Kelly Root (59) Couples Net:
1st – Jeff & Kelly Johnstone (51) 2nd – Anita & Jim Comisky (52) Family Gross:
1st – Evan & Jeremy Raynor (52)
2nd – Sutinat & Sarina Tangyingyong (52)
3rd – Jeff & Greta Golden (52) 4th – Kathryn & Brady Dougan (53) Family Net:
1st – Andy & Andy Kokoska (48) 2nd – Jeff & Sam Heinemann (48) 3rd – Chris & Rory Wandell (49) Hole-in-One: Megan Grant – Hole No. 7 with a 7-iron from 125 yards.
The event was conducted by the Jacksonville Area Golf Association (JAGA) for the eighth year in a row and once again chaired by Duke Butler III of TPC Sawgrass and family members, wife Sheila, son Duke IV and daughter Sadie. Butler III was reelected president of JAGA for 2026 at its recent Dec. 9 Annual Meeting at Stillwater Golf and Country Club.
The Family Championship has the largest field of any tournament on JAGA’s schedule and arguably is its most popular event. It joined the JAGA schedule with its new format in 2018, but its roots lie in two former JAGA events, the Father-Son and Couples tournaments. The Family Championship is a re-creation of the two, with the circle of family eligibility connections greatly expanded.
The JAGA Family Championship will return to Jax Beach GC on Saturday, Dec. 19.
