For the FIRST time ever, the Tennessee PGA Section will be sending a team of PGA HOPE Graduates to participate in the 2026 Secretary’s cup. The event is held during PGA Championship week in May, and helps to celebrate PGA HOPE and it’s meaningful impact to military Veterans. 

Each team that participates in the 2026 Secretary’s Cup is composed of four PGA HOPE Veterans and one PGA or LPGA Professional, where they will compete in a 5-person 9-hole scramble. The Tennessee PGA Section is proud to introduce the 2026 Secretary’s Cup Team. 

 

Angela Hammontree | U.S Army 

Angela Hammontree served as a Medic in the Army from 2000-2006. PGA HOPE gave her a purpose and a network of new friends to take on life with. She found avenues to both share her story and enjoy the game of golf at the same time. 

“PGA Hope gives Hope; PGA Hope saves lives. PGA Hope may not have saved my life, but it certainly gave me one.” – Angela Hammontree

 

Casey Willett | U.S Army 

Before the military, Casey Willett already had a love for the game of golf, with his parents running a golf course in Louisiana during his childhood. Casey spent six and a half years in the Army as a Combat Medic. He was stationed at Camp Hovey, South Korea, Fort Riley, Kansas, and also Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

He had read about PGA HOPE and how they get Veterans into golf. He not only learned that there was so much he did not know, but he also learned golf could be so much more than just a sport. It was a vehicle that brought about the realization that he was not alone in his struggles, but rather had a community that he could be vulnerable around.

“I know what PGA HOPE has meant to me and the impact it has made on my life, and I want others to experience the same. It has truly given me a sense of purpose.” – Casey Willett

 

Shellie Smith | U. S Army 

Shellie served in the United States Army from 1989-1995. She was deployed to Kuwait in 1990 and spent her time there as a Black Hawk mechanic. 

Shellie quickly realized it was so much more. She realized just how many Veterans are just like her and that she was not alone after all. Their simple decision to give the program a shot changed her complete outlook going forward. 

“All because a Veteran program cared to include a shy old lady like me.” – Shellie Smith 

 

Erik Dines | U. S Navy 

Originally from Detroit, MI, Erik Dines enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 2006. As a Utilities man in the Navy’s Construction Force, the Seabees, he has completed tours across the globe, including Africa, Afghanistan, Timor-Leste, Guam, Spain, Palau, and Norway. 

He was first introduced to PGA Hope in North Chicago, IL, and later reconnected with the program in Memphis, TN. Erik appreciates how golf requires a quiet mind and mental toughness. For him, PGA Hope has been instrumental in building resilience and has been a ‘game changer’ in curbing depression and anxiety by connecting him with a community of like-minded veterans.

 

Lamar Mills, PGA

Lamar Mills, PGA, the Chattanooga Chapter of PGA HOPE Lead has seen significant growth through strategic fundraising and community engagement. In 2025, his inaugural Drive for Hope tournament raised $9,500 and secured 17 sponsors, while the annual Veterans Day Tournament consistently generates 10–15 new program leads by pairing alumni with new veterans. 

Beyond the course, the chapter fosters deep community ties by collaborating with the Soddy Daisy High School ROTC and supporting local causes, such as donating 685 pounds of food to the Marine Corps League. Lamar’s leadership has also expanded alumni engagement from six playdates in 2023 to 24 scheduled for 2026, projected to facilitate over 1,000 rounds of golf. 

Through high-profile volunteer opportunities at USGA and Korn Ferry Tour events, the chapter continues to elevate the visibility of PGA HOPE and its mission to support area veterans.