(Calhoun, Ga) — Following a playoff in the recent Public Safety Charity Golf Tournament, the Calhoun Fire Department was named the winning team in the first ever event.

Sponsored by Gordon EMS, the event was held October 6 at the Calhoun Elks Lodge golf course. Five teams competed for the coveted trophy, including Bartow EMS, Calhoun Fire Department, Gordon EMS, Gordon Hospital and Gordon County Fire Department.

“It was a really good tournament,” said event organizer Adam Dortch. “It came down to a playoff between the Calhoun Fire Department and the Gordon County Fire Department.”

The Gordon County Fire Department earned the second place award and Bartow EMS placed third.

But the real winner of the tournament, Dortch said, was the Georgia Burn Foundation, which received approximately $2,000 from the charity tournament. Also receiving a portion of the proceeds was the Bartow County Boys and Girls Club, for which the Bartow EMS team played.

“We were thrilled that our first ever tournament was such a success,” said Courtney Taylor, director of Gordon EMS. “In addition to the players, we are extremely grateful to our sponsors without whom this event would not have been possible.”

Sponsors included American Imaging & Design, Bagwell Rolloff Service, Dr. Larry A. Davis, Fair’s Auto Service and Repair, Gordon County Board of Commissioners, Gordon Hospital Emergency Department, Gordon Hospital Emergency Physicians, Gordon EMS, Interlink Uniforms, Liberty Tire Recycling LLC, Max Brannon and Sons Funeral Home, McCracken Chiropractic, Northwest Georgia Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Northwest Georgia Medical Group, Powell Communications, Sharkey’s Seafood & Wings, Summer Tree Golf Course, Ten 8 Fire & Safety, The Tanning Zone & Hair Studio, White’s Pediatrics of Calhoun, and Witex USA Flooring.

Door prizes were donated by PGA Superstore, The Painted Post, Professional Eye Care of Calhoun, and Executive Tire. Special thanks were also given by the organizers to the Calhoun Elks Lodge, Artistic Embroidery & Design, Express Signs, and Designs Unlimited.

Next year’s tournament is being planned for May 2010, at which the Calhoun Fire Department will defend their trophy.

“This tournament was designed to bring folks together from many different areas of public safety and healthcare in a more relaxing, less stressful atmosphere,” Dortch said.

“At the same time we wanted to raise money for some good causes. This year’s tournament accomplished those goals, and we hope to have even more teams in next year’s tournament.”