The Fifth Annual Heroes Invitational golf tournament is taking place Sept. 25 at the Southern Hills Golf & Country Club in Hawkinsville, Ga., with proceeds going to Sua Sponte, an organization dedicated to supporting the warriors and families of the 1^stRanger Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield near Savannah, Ga.

Tournament Chairman Mike Fiveash said at least twelve 1^st Ranger Battalion soldiers will participate in the tourney.  Most of the other participants have ties to the state's electric cooperatives.  Teams and volunteers include directors, managers, employees and consultants representing Georgia's EMCs, plus Oglethorpe Power, Georgia Transmission, Georgia System Operations and Georgia Electric Membership Corporation.

"It's an honor to share this tournament with soldiers of the 1^st Ranger Battalion who selflessly risk their lives to protect our country," Fiveash said. "This is our way of letting the soldiers and their families know how much we appreciate their service and sacrifices."

Fiveash said the tourney will open with a recognition ceremony for the soldiers and will include remarks from SFC Zac Chisum, one of the Rangers' elite, who will describe the mission and directives of the 1^st Ranger Battalion.  Ed Durham, chairman of the Board of Sua Sponte, will also speak.

Southern Hills has been recognized in Golf Digest's "Favorite Places to Play" list with a rating of 4.5 stars as well as Golf Magazine's "Thrifty Fifty," which recognizes the Top Fifty Golf Courses in America at under $50 a round.

The golf course is owned by the Dunaway Family of Hawkinsville and has hosted the Heroes event every year. Middle Georgia EMC Board Member David Dunaway is a partner.  He is also on the Board of Georgia Transmission Corporation.

"The Heroes Invitational is one of my favorites at Southern Hills because it honors the brave soldiers that protect our country and our way of life every day," Dunaway said.

Since the Heroes Invitational tournament began, more than 450 golfers have participated and approximately $265,000 has been raised for veterans' causes.  This year's sponsors include The Georgia EMC Vendor Group, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp., Georgia System Operations Corp., Georgia EMC, CoBank, the Southern Hills golf course and Sua Sponte.