19th Annual ATLAS Golf Tournament Honors Doug Hesse and Celebrates Community Support
Pictured Above: First place team, Landmark Construction & Development and Atlas Early Leaders, take a moment to celebrate the victory after a competitive day of play.
The 19th Annual ATLAS Golf Tournament, held October 12 at the Oconee Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee, hosted golfers both near and far for a memorable day of golf, fellowship, and community impact.
Over the years, the tournament has become a cherished tradition for sponsors to support ATLAS, a Christ-centered organization dedicated to educating, discipling, and training students and their families to become change agents in their community.
This year marked another meaningful milestone in ATLAS’s longstanding relationship with Jeanne Hesse. Mrs. Hesse has served as the tournament’s Presenting Sponsor for four consecutive years in loving memory of her husband, Doug Hesse. The Hesses played a pivotal role in establishing the tournament 19 years ago.
The tournament offered golfers an opportunity to connect directly with the students at the heart of ATLAS’s mission. Students joined golfers at designated holes throughout the day, participated in golf games, mingled with players, and provided refreshments along the course. These interactions gave participants a firsthand connection to the students whose lives are impacted by ATLAS and the generosity of its supporters.
On the course, the competition was lively, with 120 golfers participating in this year’s tournament. When the final scores were tallied, Landmark Construction’s team, featuring Brandon Burgess, Caleb Wilds, Nick Swisher, and Logan Hicks, claimed first place. The second-place team Susan Dufford, Scott Deering, Jack LaBelle, and Lisa Kaufman kept the competition close, while the third-place team Stuart Magill, Dennis Henry, Jay Gaston, and Russell Greenway rounded out the top three with a strong finish.
Individual honors added to the excitement, with Lisa Kaufman and Logan Hicks claiming the Longest Drive title and Lauren Murray and Rusty Wood taking home Closest to the Pin honors.
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make this year’s tournament possible. From our sponsors, golfers, and volunteers to our staff, board, students, and community members who showed up to support ATLAS, it was heartwarming to see such an outpouring of support,” said Lisa Brondyke, Director of Development. “Their generosity makes a lasting impact on the students we serve and helps create opportunities for God to continue working through ATLAS and throughout our community.”
ATLAS extends its sincere appreciation to all the sponsors whose generosity helped make this year’s tournament a success. Special recognition goes to the 2026 VIP Sponsors: Greg and Meredith Howard, Anthem Automotive, Zaxby’s Greensboro, Meadows and Ohly, Millwood Plumbing Services, and Amy’s Tickets. Their partnership, along with the support of every tournament sponsor, helps advance ATLAS’s mission and strengthen its impact throughout the community.
More than a day on the golf course, the ATLAS Golf Tournament reflects the power of a community united around its students. Through opportunities to learn, build meaningful relationships, and grow in their faith, ATLAS encourages students to discover their God-given purpose.
“Our students are going to change the world, and thank you for supporting them because they are truly the change agents that our world needs,” said Ryan Giblado, CEO of ATLAS.
Help make a difference in the lives of children in our community. Visit atlasministry.org to learn more about the ATLAS mission and how you can get involved through volunteering, donating, and connecting others to the ministry.