Ken Stoner, of Fort Myers, began volunteering with the FSGA in 2008, after retiring to Florida in 2007. His time and dedication to the game is evident, volunteering at over 130 events in his 15 years with the FSGA and being named Volunteer of the Year in 2018. He served as a tournament chairman for several FSGA and USGA qualifiers in 2017 and 2018. He was dedicated to performing his best each day and was a positive influence on players and other volunteers.
Stoner’s favorite memory from his time volunteering with the FSGA came in 2015 at the Women’s Amateur, when he refereed the finals match between Emily Rymer and Alyssa Lamoureux at Coral Creek Club in Placida, Florida. Rymer defeated Lamoureux, 4 and 2.
“It was exciting to be there and be a part of it. In my estimation, that was big-time golf,” Stoner said of the match.
In 1986, Stoner began playing the game in a men’s Monday night league at the suggestion of his wife, Mitzi, to pick up an outside hobby. She also started playing the same time as a way for the couple to spend time together as they got older. The more Stoner played, the more he wanted to improve and that led the couple to join a club in 1991, where his love for the game grew.
Serving as a Tournament Volunteer in the Naples area, Ken made a lasting impact on the FSGA. Ken enjoyed meeting the players, shared his kindness with everyone who crossed his path, and dedicated his time to the FSGA. In June 2024, golf lost a great friend with Ken's passing.
