Golfers were prepared to tee off under partly cloudy skies, but there were no clouds in the hearts of those who were here to support Good Shepherd Housing as they hosted their 20^th Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Wednesday. The shotgun-style tournament was held at the Osprey Golf Club in Belmont Bay.

Based in Mount Vernon, nonprofit Good Shepherd Housing purchases housing for low income families who are struggling to make ends meet. The organization also provides budget counseling services and offers assistance with children's resources. 

According to Shannon Steene, Executive Director of Good Shepherd Housing, this year's event is expected to garner over $17,000 in donations.

Jim Sullivan, a longtime volunteer, describes how the charity was established while waiting to tee off.

"The Good Shepherd Housing Alliance began back in 1974 when a family of 10 walked into the Good Shepherd Church and had nothing.  The community united and raised enough money to build the family a house," said Sullivan. "Since then, the Good Shepherd Housing Alliance and Family Services now owns over 34 properties, including a few condos that we set people up in who need help. We currently operate at $2 million a year and have a $5 million budget and with the help of Fairfax County we continue to grow each year."  

Nick Stensko and Paul Schlesinger have been playing the tournament for the past few years.

"It's a good way to get together with friends and family and support a good cause." Schlesinger said.

"Paul won a private boat tour last year for him and his wife, "chuckled Stensko, "but they were pulled over by the Coast Guard when they went into a no-wake zone."

Tournament coordinator John Horn was busy all day selling mulligans and raffle tickets to raise more money for the organization.

"This is a tournament you can actually buy yourself to the top by purchasing mulligans," Horn, a longtime volunteer, explained at the start of the tournament. "Last year the winner spent like $1000.00 to win." The players laughed, but started reaching for their wallets as he began riding around the course selling tickets later in the day.

And bought to the top is exactly what the winners did this year. Hilltop Golf, who sponsors a similar tournament in the spring, came in first with a 55. A score like that would make even Tiger Woods nervous, but these guys spent quite a bit on mulligans. The Roy Rogers Team took second place in the tournament. Denise Condon picked up a prize for "Closest to the Pin" and the award for the "Longest Drive" went to Tony Skisce and Kathleen Robinson. The night concluded with a live auction and dinner.

Key sponsors of the event included Affordable Pest, Don Beyer Volvo, and Toffie and Margaret Owen of Woodbridge. Charles Schwab, Ed Gillespie Strategies, The Potomac Advocates, Republic Title and The Fairfax were Silver sponsors.