MELBOURNE, Fla. (Athletics News) – Florida Tech’s Ninth Annual Chopper Dropper, part of the annual Sporting Affair athletics scholarship fundraiser, was held March 16 at Suntree Country Club.

The event delivered cash prizes to 13 lucky winners, including Joseph Pauldine who took the $25,000 grand prize. The annual event was part of Sporting Affair XX.

Exactly 2,500 numbered golf balls were loaded into a helicopter and dropped on the driving range at Suntree. The ball that landed closest to the flag—which was Pauldine’s ball #2342—won. Pauldine is from Palm Beach, Fla.

The $10,000 prize for the ball landing second closest to the pin went to Donna Baker, Palm Bay; the $5,000 prize for third closest was claimed by Thomas Darnell, Melbourne. Ten runner-up prizes of $1,000 each went to Hartley Stahel, Atlanta, Ga.; Tim Hester, W.A. Bell, Mike Renfro, Phillip Nohrr, Tina Euler, and Gloria Reynolds and Rita Torres (shared ticket), Melbourne; Bob Ufferman, Indialantic; Allan Weitzman, Boca Raton; and Richard Harlin, Rockledge.

“It was just a beautiful day for a golf event and fun for everyone,” Matt Kilcullen, assistant vice president for athletic fundraising said. “We’re very grateful for all who participated in what was probably our best fundraiser ever for athletic scholarships.”

Chopper Dropper participants had the opportunity to attend a cocktail buffet reception and participate in a silent auction and raffle. Sporting Affair XX also included a golf tournament with a $1 million hole-in-one shootout sponsored by Berman Hopkins, Wright & LaHam.

Major sponsors included Audi of Melbourne; Dean Mead; BISK Education; Bright House Networks; National Management Resources; Coca Cola; Tony Weight; Berman Hopkins, Wright & LaHam; MIMA Sports Medicine; and Siemens Building Technologies.