Furniture First golf tourney brings in 42 golfers, benefits 2 charities

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Prior to its annual symposium here, national independent furniture and bedding retail buying group Furniture First‘s golf tournament raised $35,000 for a pair of charities.

In all, 42 golfers competed at the Fazio Golf Course at the PGA National Resort to support St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and Ante 4 Autism. CEO Andrew Kauffman and Mike Kordik, director of member engagement, took on the responsibility for coordinating the tournament, recruiting sponsors and golfers alike.

“Whenever we hold our symposium in sunny climates, we have requests, from both members and vendors, for a golf tournament,” said Kauffman. “We are looking at the possibility of doing another tournament in 2026 when we return to Live at Lowes in Arlington, Texas, for next year’s symposium, June 1-3, 2026.”

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All prize winners opted to donate their winnings back to the charitable causes. Prizes were awarded to Scott Warlick of SGI for men’s longest drive; Wendy Turner of Turner Furniture Co., Avon Park, Fla., for women’s longest drive; and Chad Erickson of Erickson Furniture, Faribault, Minn., for closest to the pin.

The team of Bo Coconis of Coconis Furniture, Zanesville, Ohio; Doug Krinsky of 3Z Brands; and Dion Thornton of Southern Motion and the team of Frank Waltman of Waltman Furniture, Kittanning, Pa.; Clay Erickson of Erickson Furniture; Keith Stamey of Gulf Stream Shippers Assn.; and Tom Narde of Argent Merchant Services tied for best overall score.

The “Most Honest” team was comprised of Mike Moss of Bear’s Furniture & Mattress, Franklin, Pa., Kordik of Furniture First and David Patterson of Southern Motion.

“Even though the day started out with rain, thunder and lightning, it allowed our member golfers and vendor sponsor partners more time to network while waiting for the weather to cooperate,” said Kordik.

Following the prize awards, Furniture First presented checks for $17,500 to both Ante4Autism and St. Jude‘s Children’s Hospital. Krinsky accepted the funds on behalf of Ante4Autism, while Furniture First member Lisa Hawkins, owner of Room to Room Furniture in Tupelo, Miss., accepted funds on behalf of St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, a cause she has supported with charitable efforts at her furniture store.

Furniture First supplier and service partners helped sponsor the event, including Serta Simmons Bedding, SomniGroup International (formerly Tempur-Sealy International), Flexsteel, Argent Credit Services, Podium, Knorr Marketing, Southern Motion, 3Z Brands, Elite Rewards, Guardsman, Gulf Stream Shippers, Orbit Interactive Marketing, Snap Finance and Xsensor.