Annual Charity Classic deemed another success

Published 8:17 pm Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Selma Mayor George Evans laughs with golfers Wednesday during the Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic.--Jay Sowers

Selma Mayor George Evans laughs with golfers Wednesday during the Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic.–Jay Sowers

Although Mayor George Evans putted the 18th green 56 times Wednesday at the Mayor’s Charity Classic at Valley Grande Golf Course, he left smiling with a clean scorecard.

As the tournament’s host, Evans waited at the final hole as teams played the course, putting for each team to try to help everyone’s score. He admits he doesn’t get to play golf as often as he’d life, but he enjoyed trying to make putts from all over the green on Wednesday.

The proceeds for the tournament, which included 28 teams of three, go to six charities around Selma-Dallas County.

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“At the end of the day, somebody will win a trophy as a prize but the children win,” Evans said. “They are the winners of it all. We are just happy to have it. This is our fourth year and it is getting bigger and bigger.”

The tournament benefits six agencies: Cahaba Center for Mental Health, West Alabama Rehabilitation-Easter Seals, The Journey School, Selma City Schools, Dallas County Schools and the Selma Disability Advocacy Center.

“It just shows to me how the communities pull together,” Valley Grande Mayor Wayne Labbe said of the tournament. “Selma is a different town than Valley Grande but when it comes to things like this we pull together in the same effort.”

Registration for the tournament was $75 per player, meaning a total of around $6300 was raised from just registration alone, not including any donations. Operating costs still had to be factored in, as well as any other expenses. After totaling the true amount raised after factoring in expenditures, the money will be split among the six agencies.

The tournament was broken down into four flights. Valley Grande Golf Course won the first flight with a score of 54. Pepsi’s No. 2 team won the second flight, Morris Agency won the third flight and First Avenue Cleaners won the fourth flight. Each of the overall winners received golf bags, while second place teams were given a $75 gift card Mark’s Mark and third place received a $50 gift certificate.