Thirty-nine foursomes play at tournament
By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – Once again, it seemed like Tony Etchison was smiling down on his own tournament.
The fourth annual Tony Etchison Memorial Golf Outing took place Monday at Fox Prairie Golf Club in Noblesville. The tournament honors the beloved late Noblesville native and also raises funds for Etchison’s Memorial Foundation.
“It’s been going so well,” said Toby Etchison, Tony’s wife. “It’s been great to see everybody, get lots of hugs and seeing everybody continue his legacy of wanting to make that difference in others. Being out there to support the boys and I means the world to us.”
The foundation estimates that this year’s tournament raised around $30,000 for the foundation. During the tournament, the foundation presented its annual $5,000 check to the Noblesville Boys & Girls Club, as well as a $2,000 check to the Noblesville Elks Lodge No. 576 for cancer research.
This year’s tournament featured 39 foursomes competing, including friends of Tony Etchison and his family. One of the participants was Sally (Shonk) White, a 2003 Noblesville graduate who placed third in the state meet in 2000 and was state runner-up in 2002, the same year she won the Mental Attitude Award. White helped the Millers to team state runner-up finishes in 2000 and 2001.
“I really got to know them through John Stretch, who was my sixth-grade basketball coach and became a mentor of mine for many, many years to come,” said White. “John was a great coach, and then I always would hear about his daughter, Toby, and his children and then the grandkids.”
White now works as the director of merchandise for the Western Golf Association and Evans Scholars Foundation.
“We do a lot of purchasing for different events that raise money for the Evans Scholars Foundation, and then I run the merchandise tent for the BMW Championship, which is our flagship tournament.”
The Evans Scholars Foundation runs a caddy scholarship program that awards full tuition and housing college scholarships to deserving caddies. More information is available at wgaesf.org
Next year’s outing is tentatively planned for Monday, July 20, with announcements of entries to be made in the spring of 2026.
“We’re just able to do so much,” said Toby Etchison. “It warms me a great deal. As hard as this day is and why we have to be here, it’s still a celebration.”
Jody Roudebush (left) enjoys a cookie that was baked by Donna Cayton (right). Also pictured is Brenda Wanous. (Richie Hall)
Hamilton Heights graduates Phoenix Vondersaar, Tillman Etchison, Simon Knott and Dean Mason played together. (Richie Hall)
Greg Sidener of Cicero and John Buis of Noblesville participate in a putting contest during the golf outing. (Richie Hall)
Pete Smith, Sally (Shonk) White, John Stretch, Danielle Roudebush and Bill Shonk enjoyed the day and the tournament. (Richie Hall)