Thousands came out to see Augusta native Will McCranie, Occasional Milkshake, Colbie Caillat and the Goo Goo Dolls perform in an effort to raise money for the First Tee of Augusta.
Reporter: Ryan Calhoun

News 12 at 11 o'clock -- April 6, 2010

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Thousands came out to the First Tee of Augusta to see big name recording artists, but the sixth annual Rock Fore! Dough concert is a big event all about the kids of First Tee of Augusta.

Melissa Padgett has been to all six years of the concert, but this year she brought her daughter, Madison and her friend Emma Bentley.

"It started out as just some friends meeting up once a year," Padgett said about the family fun. "But we still come just because!"

Scott Lard came to enjoy some food, a few beers with some friends and listen to some music, especially the Goo Goo Dolls since he said he grew up listening to the band.

After Augusta's own Will McCranie performed to tee off the show, News 12 This Morning's Lynnsey Gardner introduced the rare sounds of Occasional Milkshake, a band mixed of members of other bands, like Hootie and the Blowfish.

Once fans quenched their thirst with them, fans cheered and screamed in suspense as they waited for Colbie Caillat.

Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver even had to reassure the crowd she would be coming up.

But soon after Mayor Copenhaver left the stage, Caillat's band started to jam a little before Caillat came out and rocked the stage.

The Goo Goo Dolls ended the night under the lights before midnight.

But before playing in front of an audience of thousands Caillat and the Goo Goo Dolls took pictures and met some of the kids of First Tee, including Leeroy Francis and Steve Ledom, who showed his nerves on the way to meet them.

"As you know Colbie is really hot," Ledom told News 12 as the reason he was so nervous.

Caillat thought it was "cute" that Ledom and other kids were nervous because of that, but said it was great to meet the kids before she hit the stage.

"It's so good to actually meet them in person," she said. "It helps them all year play a sport they love to play. I'm just glad to be a part of it."

"These events are always fun because it's for a good cause and everybody is always having fun," said Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls.

For fans, it's live music for a good cause and it sure sounds good to them.

"It's a win, win," Lard said. "Everybody gets to enjoy some good music and they get to help some kids."

Francis is one of those kids and enjoys everything about the concert and the First Tee of Augusta.

"There's so many that appreciate this," Francis said about the concert. "It's just a great opportunity for us."

An opportunity for them to live out their dreams, which many said is to be a professional golfer and play at the course just a few miles away from the First Tee, the Augusta National.

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