Americus Knights of Columbus raises $4,000 for charity in annual charity golf tournament
Published 4:24 pm Monday, May 20, 2019
- This is the logo for the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic charitable organization. The Americus chapter of the KOC held its 22nd annual charity golf tournament on Saturday, May 18, at the Griffin Bell Golf Course. Photo by Knights of Columbus
AMERICUS – Several golfers showed up on Saturday, May 18, to participate in the 22nd annual Knights of Columbus (KOC) Charity Golf Tournament, which was held at the Griffin Bell Golf Course.
According to Ron Akerman, head of the KOC Council #7113, the tournament raised $4,000 for charity. “Eight different organizations will receive a $500 gift from the Knights of Columbus at our June meeting on Tuesday, June 18,” Akerman said. “The tournament was very successful! Special thanks to all of our golfers, prize donors, hole sponsors and the staff at the Griffin Bell Golf Course.”
There were several contests that the golfers competed in to try to win prizes, such as closest to the pin, the straightest drive and, of course, the team scores.
Buddy Dean, one of the golfers playing in the tournament, is about to make a put. Dean won the “Closest to the Pin” contests on the fourth, sixth and seventeenth holes. He also won the “straightest drive” contest for the men.
Photo by Ken Gustafson
Golfers were divided up into teams of four. The first-place team was made up of Tim Holley, Tim Campbell, Tom Shellnut and Rob Cicario. They won the tournament with a score of 54. The second-place team with a score of 57 consisted of Terry Salter, Mitchell Goodin, Arty Cromer and Scottie Barnes. The third-place team shot a score of 60. That team consisted of Steven Dowdey, Josh Dean, Buddy Dean and Riley Saia. The fourth-place team shot a score of 62. That team consisted of Rick Hanley, Brandon Comer, Jimbo Griffith and Stan Trollenger.
All four teams donated their prize money back to the KOC.
Buddy Dean hit the straightest drive for the men. Gloria Parmentier hit the straightest drive for the women. The par three holes were designated as “Closest to the Pin” holes. Buddy Dean was closest to the pin on the fourth, sixth and seventeenth holes. Tim Holley was closest to the pin on the ninth hole and Wade Barr was closest to the pin on the 11th hole.
Salter and Barnes told the Americus Times-Recorder that they have been playing in this tournament for at least 18 years and that they’ve known Ron Akerman for a long time. According to both golfers, the tournament originally started at Brick Yard Plantation. Buddy Dean has been playing in the KOC Charity Golf Tournament for several years. “Ron said this morning that they raised $4,500 last year, which was pretty successful,” Dean said. “Hopefully, they can do it again this year.”
