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Photo courtesy of Alabama Veteran
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Juan Fernandez, a cattle farmer from the Sterrett community in Shelby County, won $10,000 by hitting a hole-in-one on hole No. 16 of the Valley course at the Oxmorr Valley golf course during the Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Military supporter Roy Brook waves to golfers as they head off to start their round at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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More than 115 golfers took part in the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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A banner for 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament hangs on a railing at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Kelly Harvey tees up his ball on hole No. 1 of the Valley course at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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The U.S. and Alabama flags are presented at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Members of the Alabama Veteran nonprofit present a framed certificate and U.S. flag to the family and friends of the late Birmingham police Sgt. Wytasha Carter at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. Carter was killed in the line of duty as a Birmingham police officer in January 2019.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Retired Marine Don Lehman of Hoover, Alabama, checks his golf bag just before the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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More than 115 golfers took part in the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Military supporter Roy Brook displays the U.S. flag at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Golfers stand at attention as the national anthem plays at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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More than 115 golfers took part in the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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David Wesley of the Ross Bridge community in Hoover, Alabama, takes some exercise swings just prior to the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Golfers listen to instructions just prior to the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Golfers head out for the start of the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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More than 115 golfers took part in the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Alan Cook of the Alabama Veteran nonprofit gives instructions to golfers prior to the start of the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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More than 115 golfers took part in the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Golfers listen to instructions just prior to the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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More than 115 golfers took part in the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Military supporter Roy Brook stands with the honor guard at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Golfers head out for the start of the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Ginny Harvey tees off on hole No. 1 of the Valley course at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Steve Ray chips a ball near the green on hole No. 2 of the Valley course at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Ryan Pridmore of the K.S. Services team No. 1 lines up a putt at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Josh Smith chips a ball near the green on hole No. 2 of the Valley course at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Kirby Sims of the K.S. Services team No. 1 lines up a putt at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, as teammate Ryan Pridmore watches.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Luke Holcomb of the K.S. Services team No. 1 lines up a putt at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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The Fish Eye Software team poses for a photo just prior to the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. From left are Colby Odom of Decatur, Matt Tate of Decatur, Zach Davis of Rogersville and Mark Davis of Tuscaloosa.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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More than 115 golfers took part in the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Members of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama team pose for a photo prior to the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. From left are Brian Hall of the Shelby community, Tim King of Clanton and Robbie Dietz of Helena.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Robbie Dietz of Helena, Alabama, and Brian Hall of the Shelby community chat just before the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Colby Russell of the Corner community in north Jefferson County, Alabama, adjusts a club just prior to the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Dustin Jewell of the K.S. Services team No. 1 lines up a putt at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Calvin Smith chips a ball near the green of hole No. 2 on the Valley course at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Zack Sims chips onto the green on hole No. 2 of the Valley course at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. Watching him are teammates Calvin Smith, left and Josh Smith of the K.S. Services No. 2 team.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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A gopher golf club cover sits in a golfer's bag at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Curt Whalen tees of on hole No. 1 of the Valley course at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Bill Hallenberg tees off on hole No. 1 of the Valley course at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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Members of the Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems team pose for a photo prior to teeing off at the 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. From left are Kelly Harvey, Ginny Harvey, Bill Hallenberg and Curt Whalen.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
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A banner for 2020 Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament hangs on a railing at the Oxmoor Valley golf course in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
A 55-year-old cattle rancher from Shelby County won $10,000 Sunday by hitting a hole in one at the Alabama Veteran War on the Greens golf tournament at the Robert Trent Jones Oxmoor Valley golf course.
Juan Fernandez of Sterrett knocked in the hole-in-one shot on the 16th hole of the Valley course after joking with his son, Mason, that he was going to do it.
“I have only been playing golf for two years,” Fernandez said. “I don’t know much about golf.”
His son, who plays on the golf team at Jefferson State Community College, recommended he use a 7 iron for the shot, which was 165 yards and into the wind. Seven was the lucky number.
“I hit a lucky shot, and I got it in there,” Fernandez said. “I hit it a little bit long, and it spun, then it started rolling, and it rolled and rolled, and it went in the hole. My son jumped up in the air about 5 feet. He was more excited than I was.”
Fernandez said he doesn’t know how much of the $10,000 he will get to keep after taxes or how he will use it. “Probably to pay bills or save it,” he said.
He, his son and two other guys made up one of 29 teams that were in the War on the Greens tournament, which was a fundraiser for the Alabama Veteran nonprofit group, which helps veterans reengage in society after leaving the military by meeting their social, fitness, recreational and other needs.
More than 115 golfers hit the links at the Oxmoor Valley courses between 8:30 and 9 a.m. Together, the golfers and sponsors raised more than $36,000 with the tournament to support veterans’ needs, tournament director Chris Montz said.
That’s the most golfers ever to play in the tournament, which is in its fourth year, and the most money raised, Montz said. He especially thanked all the sponsors who stepped up to help in a rough year.
Just before rolling out, the Alabama Veteran group honored the late Birmingham police Sgt. Wytasha Carter, an Air Force veteran from Shelby County who was shot to death in the line of duty in January 2019.
Leaders in the organization presented Carter’s family and friends with a framed certificate and U.S. flag. Receiving it were his wife, Tiphaney Carter, children Taelen and DeShe Carter, parents Ronald and Brenda Carter, brother Wikio Carter, sister-in-law Korliss Carter and friends from the Birmingham alumni chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
In past years, Alabama Veteran has held a gala the same weekend as the golf tournament, but this time, the gala will be held Feb. 13 at the Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa. More information about the gala will be available at a later date at alabamaveteran.org.
