Williams named guest host of this year's Kevin Turner golf tourney
Auburn assistant Carnell Williams has been tabbed as the guest host for the 26th Kevin Turner YMCA Golf Tournament on May 15 at the Robert Trent Jones Trail at Capitol Hill. (Contributed)
By TIM GAYLE
The 26th annual Kevin Turner Prattville YMCA Golf Tournament will have a different look in 2023 as former Auburn All-American Carnell “Cadillac” Williams will serve as the 10th guest host for the event.
The tournament, which will be held on May 15 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill, has relied on Turner’s former University of Alabama teammates as guest hosts since his death from chronic traumatic encephalopathy in March, 2016. This year, YMCA officials looked to the Crimson Tide’s arch rival to promote the event, which raises money for the Coach A Child campaign.
“His last season in the NFL was actually my junior year in high school, but I have tremendous respect for his career, where he played four years in the Southeastern Conference and eight years in the NFL,” Williams said. “I know his story and I’m looking forward to participating in this golf tournament. I’m eager to support the Coach A Child Scholarship Campaign, which helps the YMCA serve Prattville.
“I grew up in the Boy’s Club and at the YMCA, so I know how important those programs are. I’m honored to get this opportunity to help.”
Proceeds from the tournament help fund the Coach A Child Scholarship Fund Campaign which provides financial aid to make YMCA services available to all persons regardless of their ability to pay. In 2022 alone, more than 3,000 individuals shared more than $330,000 in scholarship dollars. To date, the tournament has raised well over a half million dollars for the scholarship fund.
An all-state running back at Etowah High, Williams finished his Auburn career (2001-04) with 3,831 yards on 741 attempts with 45 touchdowns. He broke the Auburn career record for rushing attempts, passing Joe Cribbs, and most touchdowns scored, passing Bo Jackson, while finishing second in total rushing yards and all-purpose yards.
As a senior in 2004, Williams helped lead the Tigers to one of the best seasons in program history, winning a Southeastern Conference championship en route to a perfect 13-0 season and a Sugar Bowl victory. He led Auburn in rushing with 1,165 yards and 12 touchdowns while tallying 1,718 all-purpose yards. He earned All-America honors, was the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year and was named to the All-SEC team.
The fifth overall pick of the 2005 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Williams was named the NFL Rookie of the Year after leading all rookies in rushing yards with 1,178, while posting six 100-yard rushing games in 14 starts. Williams spent six seasons with Tampa Bay before spending his final season in 2011 with the St. Louis Rams.
Turner, a Prattville native, assisted in the starting of the tournament and loaned his name to the event in1998. He was a part of every tournament until 2013 when his battle with chronic traumatic encephalopathy made his attendance very difficult. He made a brief appearance at the 2015 tournament with the first guest host, former Crimson Tide quarterback and Turner teammate Gary Hollingsworth.
After Turner’s death, the Turner family was honored as the second guest host. Additional guest hosts included Siran Stacy, Antonio Langham, Andrew Zow, Sherman Williams, Martin Houston, Roger Shultz and Preston Gothard. Last year, more than 290 people participated in the tournament, making it one of the largest in the River Region.
The golf tournament is in its eighth year at RTJ Capitol Hill after spending the first 18 years at the Prattville Country Club. For the third consecutive year the tournament will be presented by EXIT Realty.
For more information or to register for the event, contact Keith Cantrell at (334) 358-9622 or e-mail him at kcantrell@prattvilleymca.org