Augusta, GA
Teeing up for Augusta: The Pattons make it to the Masters – Storm Lake Times Pilot
Dave and LeAnn Patton joined Dave’s brother Scott and his wife Angie in soaking up the Augusta magic at the Masters earlier this month.
Dave and LeAnn Patton have long been avid golf enthusiasts. The Lake Creek couple realized a decades-long dream earlier this month when they joined Dave’s brother Scott and his wife Angie on a trip to the prestigious Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga.
With their 30th wedding anniversary approaching later this year, the couple’s shared passion for golf has been a constant throughout their marriage. Dave, who has been a golf fan and player for years, attributes his deeper appreciation for the game to marrying into a family of golf enthusiasts.
“I married into a big golf family, the Lockins from Aurelia,” Dave Patton explains.
LeAnn played collegiate level golf at Iowa State while the couple’s daughters Lexie and Annika have followed suit, leaving their own marks on the fairways.
“Our daughter Lexie played golf for Central College and Annika for UNI,” Dave says, reflecting on his family’s golf legacy. He jokes that he has “learned in the last 33 years to be the best golf supporter and cheerleader around.”
During their trip to the Masters Storm Lakers Dave and LeAnn Patton took a moment to snap a pic of the Amen corner on the historic golf course.
A family tradition?
The 2024 Masters Tournament is the first one that Dave has attended. However, it seems trips to the Masters are becoming a slow-developing tradition for LeAnn.
In 2010, LeAnn attended the Masters with her three siblings. And, Dave says, it is an experience she has been talking about ever since. LeAnn’s stories were enough for Dave to quickly decide that any future Masters Tournaments needed to be on his bucket list.
“We started putting our names into the lottery drawing every year since,” he says with a laugh.
“My brother Scott, who lives in Woodstock, Ga., has been doing the same,” he continues. And the hard work has paid off.
Late last year, Scott gave Dave a call asking if he and LeAnn would be up for visiting in April. As it turns out, Scott and his wife Angie had secured four coveted tickets to the practice round on Monday, April 8. Of course, neither Dave nor LeAnn were going to turn down this incredible opportunity. They soon began planning to attend the event.
Among the stars the Pattons caught sight of at Augusta National was the legendary Tiger Woods.
Xander Schauffele unleashes his precision swing as his caddy observes closely, navigating the greens with calculated precision at Augusta National.
The journey began on Friday night, April 5
“We flew to Atlanta, Ga. on Friday night (April 5) and spent a few days with Scott and Angie,” Dave says. By Sunday, the group took off for Augusta to explore the iconic golf course, soaking in the atmosphere. Their time watching the tournament started at 6:15 a.m. – five miles from where they were staying to ensure they would be in line before the gates opened at 8 a.m. When the group went through the security and bag checks, they were inside the grounds at the famous Augusta course at 7:45 a.m.
“We walked the famous back nine first to see the famous AMEN corner, and holes 15, 16, where practice round days they try to skip across the par 3 water,” Dave recalls.
With around 24,000 steps ticked off on each of their smartwatches by the end of the day, the couples were exhausted after 11 hours of Masters excitement. Plus, they enjoyed some delicious treats along with this once-in-a-lifetime golf experience.
One famous component of the Masters is the famously delicious and well-priced food available at the event. The couple feasted on the famous pimento cheese sandwich, which cost $1.50 as well as the equally delightful Georgia Pecan caramel which also went for $1.50.
The 16th hole at Augusta National is another well-known spot on the historic course.
Of course, Dave and LeAnn made sure to bring home a dozen souvenir cups – which means they enjoyed just as many cold drinks during their visit to the tournament.
An awesome experience
As Dave and LeAnn returned home on Tuesday afternoon, the memories of their Masters adventure remained etched in their minds.
Reflecting on their visit to the Masters, both Dave and LeAnn expressed awe at the immaculate condition of the course and the generosity of the patrons.
“The way the golf course is groomed and prepared is beyond anything I had ever seen,” Dave remarked. “This bucket list of mine did not disappoint one bit.”
Inspired by their experience, Dave and LeAnn are already envisioning a future trip with their daughters Lexie (Christian Messick) and Annika (Joe Powell) and their husbands, eager to share Augusta’s magic with their loved ones.
“Everyone needs to experience this at least once,” he says.
Augusta National’s 12th hole –– a par three challenge.
Enjoy me while I’m here but when I’m gone don’t make a fuss! Just have a party and celebrate. And don’t say all that stuff about me in the newspaper! Everyone doesn’t need to know everything I’ve done and been! Say what’s most important to me. And she elaborated…
Louise Franklin Sheehan, 87, passed away peacefully at home on June 26. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband John Wilcox Sheehan. Her parents Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Franklin. Her sister Patricia Green. Her brother Peter Franklin.
Louise, in her words, was a devoted and loving wife, a wonderful mother and grandmother to her children and was happy to be the same and WAS through the years to many other children who wanted and/or needed the same. Her family was unquestionably her life. She was a dear friend to many. She never met a stranger. She helped many strangers in need, some who would become dear friends.
Louise is survived by her children Marie King (Sam), Patricia Beck (John), John Sheehan, Franklin Sheehan. Her grandchildren Aurelia Beck, Katie Schantz (Evan), Mary Darby Garren, Sadie Beck, Georgia Beck (Barry Sonders), Jack Beck (Anna Mae). Great grandchildren Magnolia Beck, Theodore Beck, Otis Beck and Maya Schantz. Also survived by her close in laws, sister in law Beth Sheehan and her brother in law and sister in law Joe and Nancy Sheehan as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
We would like to give the utmost thanks and love to her long term devoted care givers who have become family: Nichole Lane, Latonja Williams and Faina Blackwood. And to Tameka Blackwood who came as needed. Truly our angels on earth.
Louise, a life long devoted Saint Mary’s on the Hill parishioner, had a passion and long term devotion to supporting numerous Catholic Children missions. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the children’s charity of your choice in her honor if you desire.
A celebration of her life will be announced at a later date.
Louise was most known for her kindness. In her honor, go extra on kindness today and always to family, friends and strangers.
Arrangements are being provided by Platt’s Funeral Home, 721 Crawford Avenue, Augusta, GA 30904 (706) 733-3636. Please take a moment to share your condolences by signing the online guestbook at plattsfuneralhome.com.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Fire Department held a community event Saturday to help residents prepare for hurricane season and stay safe during emergencies.
The department met with residents at the Augusta-Richmond County Library, where they distributed community resources.
Lt. Stephanie Allen, public education specialist with the Augusta Fire Department, spoke about fire safety and emergency preparedness.
“Do a home escape plan, walk around your house, make sure your smoke detectors are working,” Allen said. “I tell people, simple as going online or go to Walmart and buy an extinguisher — right, little things like that will help. Keep an extinguisher in your car. Little things like that can help save your life, save your property.”
The department also demonstrated how to use a fire extinguisher, discussed how to create a go-kit for emergencies and explained how to use an automated external defibrillator.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The CSRA Death Cafe hosted a gathering Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta on Walton Way.
Death Cafes began as a way to increase awareness about death and encourage people to make the most of their lives. Since 2011, more than 24,000 Death Cafes have been held in 97 countries.
Brenda Ferguson, an attendee at the CSRA Death Cafe, spoke about how people approach death differently.
“I think death is different for everyone, you know, but accepting people where they are and helping them through wherever they are,” Ferguson said. “And if we need to get them to understand some things, but I can never say your way is wrong, because it’s different for everyone.”
Abigail Danns, also an attendee, said many people avoid the topic altogether.
“From my experience, a lot of us kind of live in denial,” Danns said. “No one wants to plan the funeral. That’ll jinx it. No one wants to just kind of tiptoe around the topic when really we all have to do it. So we might as well kind of just explore those thoughts, have the conversations, and better yet, get prepared.”
Organizers said they will host another Death Cafe on Aug. 30 at 4 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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