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Even nonfans enjoy reception
Posted: Monday April 07
By Amy Allyn Swann
The Augusta Chronicle
Twelve-year-old Nick Hall can take or leave golf, but he loves the annual Mayor's Masters Reception.
What's the appeal for the Jackson Middle School pupil?
"What else, the food," he said, having just finished off a plate of wings and cheese dip from Stool Pigeons.
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Mayor Bob Young mingles with the crowd of more than 500 at his annual Masters reception at Julian Smith Casino. As the party wound down Monday, many were still waiting to see a golfer. THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE |
Seems like Nick isn't the only fan of the event.
More than 500 people packed into Julian Smith Casino Monday night for the 5th Annual Mayor's Masters Reception, and organizers estimated up to 1,000 people would drop by before the evening was over.
In the elbow-room only crowd, attendees lined up for servings of everything from collard greens from Hot Foods by Calvin to ice cream concoctions from Cold Stone Creamery.
Sherry Sims of Augusta stood in the middle of the enormous room eating a piece of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and a pecan on top.
"Mmm," she said, as she took a bite from the Smoak's Bakery treat. "You know, I want to go on a diet, but things like this keep coming up, and they are just too good to miss."
Ruth Christos and her husband Chris haven't missed a year of the reception and dressed for the occasion in their matching Masters' pullover shirts.
"We been here every year since the first one at the old Medical College of Georgia," said Mrs. Christos. "I think this is a great city event. It's a great way to make people feel like they're a part of the Masters."
Pulling together the reception takes plenty of work, said Randy Brown one of the reception committee members.
"We start in January," not only on the Masters reception, but also on the LPGA reception, he said.
As he surveyed the crowd, he agreed that this year's was "probably the largest crowd yet."
Rashede Paltis, 15, of Augusta, didn't need to count heads to know the reception was a hit.
He could tell by the hundreds of cups of gumbo he dished out at the Hot Foods by Calvin's booth.
"This is very good," Rashede said, pointing to the steaming okra and tomato filled serving dish. "And I have been very busy."
Shannon Hanson was thrilled by the generous people that stopped to buy raffle tickets at a booth manned by the members of the Augusta State University Golf team.
Ms. Hanson, team coach, said they sell the tickets for the committee and are presented with a check from the proceeds.
Last year, the first time they sold the tickets, the team collected $1,000.
Ms. Hanson is hoping for even more this year since the raffle including dozens of prizes from golf balls to plane rides.
Mayor Bob Young, the host, moved through the crowd shaking hands and chatting with constituents.
"It's the fifth annual and it's the biggest," he said.
The mayor said it is important to have an event for the community to kick off the week and especially this year after months of attacks on Augusta and Augusta National Golf Club by those protesting the all-male membership of the club.
"Let's send a message this year," Mayor Young said. "We appreciate the Augusta National and the wonderful tournament they put on each year."
Golf fans had hoped to catch a glimpse of local golfer Charles Howell, but he still hadn't arrived as the event began to wind down.
"I heard he was out hitting golf balls," said Wayne Hawkins, the chairman of the event.
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