July 16, 2012

The sixth annual Farmington Invitational to benefit the First Tee of Charlottesville was held Monday afternoon.

Eighty local golfers hit the links in support of the cause, including Delegate David Toscano of the 57th District.

"Well you know First Tee is about golf, but it really isn't about golf," explained Toscano. "It's about life, it's about values, integrity, honesty, stick-to-itiveness. All the things youngsters need to get ahead in life and it's a good opportunity to learn the game in the process."

Tournament officials say they've raised nearly $120,000 in the six years they've held the tournament.

"What better can you use to teach honesty and perseverance and integrity than golf? It also brings them in and teaches them how to play golf also. So it introduces them to a sport they can play the rest of their lives and it's just a great organization as far as youth development goes," Farmington Assistant General Manager Wayne Hall said.

The First Tee of Charlottesville is in its 11th year and uses the game of golf to promote character-building and healthy choices among children.

Hall says the Farmington tournament is used by the First tee organization as a great example of how to run a smaller, local tournament. The First Tee holds larger tournaments throughout the country, but Hall says not many smaller tournaments are run better than the Invitational.

And for Toscano, it's a chance to escape his busy schedule and the political pressures his daily life brings.

"It's a great opportunity to relax and support a good cause in the process," Toscano said. "First Tee has done a wonderful job in this community educating young people about the values of the game and the values of life and that's something to support."