Friday, Stonetree Golf Course hosted Metroplex Health System’s 27th Annual Spring Golf Classic tournament.  

“It’s a beautiful course. Every year, the golfers have a good time because it’s not about them anymore, it’s about the fellowship and the serving for others,” said Becky Day, chairman of Metroplex Health System Foundation.

Approximately 100 golfers made their way onto the green to compete in the morning sun.   

“I’ve been playing this just about every year. The foundation does a lot of great things and I enjoy supporting it,” said J.D. Johnson, resident of Harker Heights.

The golf tournament provided team prizes and 60 raffle prizes which included a set of irons, gift certificates, golfing accessories, and other items for about two-thirds of the players.

“Metroplex does great things for the health of the community and I’m an avid golfer, so this works out, playing golf and giving back to the community,” said first-time golf competitor, Von Brickhouse, resident of Harker Heights.

The money raised from the golf tournament goes towards the new heart and vascular center.

“I think this new service will save more lives faster because we will have the equipment, the services, the programs, additional staff and physicians, right here (in Killeen),” said Daphne Meade, Metroplex Health System Foundation manager.  

Metroplex hospital in Killeen has more than 300 physicians serving more than 125,000 patients annually within Bell, Coryell, and Lampasas counties.   

The heart and vascular center is a $4.3 million project. The center will provide more services, programs, state of the art equipment and up to date technology not currently available in Central Texas.  

“There is a huge and growing need for cardiovascular services in our community,” said Meade.  

According to Texas Department of Health and Services, heart disease is the number one cause of death in Bell County. For the United States, the American Heart Association states, “Cardiovascular diseases other than coronary heart disease were the leading cause of heart failure-related deaths in 2014.” The number of heart failure diagnoses are expected to increase in the upcoming years.

“It’s going to be a great service to the community because we have to have healthy hearts in order to live healthy lives,” said Day.

The team awarded with first place was the Armed Services YMCA. The annual tournament raised approximately $17,000 for the new center, scheduled to open around fall of 2016.