Wayne Taylor Golf Tourney best yet

Sixty players enjoyed a beautiful day of golf Thursday, June 7, at the Big Lake Country Club in Manila where the Arkansas Northeastern College Foundation held the 14th annual Wayne Taylor Memorial Golf Tournament. This year's event is slated to be the most successful in the tournament's history with an estimated profit of $8,000 to be used toward student scholarships to Arkansas Northeastern College.

Fifteen, four-person teams filled the course for the Wayne Taylor Memorial Golf Tournament. This event raises funds for scholarships to Arkansas Northeastern College for students from the Buffalo Island and Bootheel of Missouri areas. Since its inception in 1998, this tournament has raised almost $70,000 in scholarships.

Mr. Wayne Taylor of Leachville helped create this tournament. He was an ardent supporter of ANC and a long-time member of the ANC Foundation Board of Governors. Mr. Taylor was a past Chairman of the ANC Foundation, and a true friend to the College. Following his death in 2004, the ANC Foundation changed the name of the tournament to honor Mr. Taylor for the commitment he had to offering educational opportunities to people of this area.

"This year's tournament was a great success and we are so appreciative to everyone who offered their support. We are fortunate to have many local businesses and individuals who are willing to donate to this event so that we can raise scholarship money for students living in this area," said Rachel Gifford, ANC dean for development.

Gifford noted a special thanks to all the tee-box sponsors, major sponsors, players, and the Big Lake Country Club for supporting the tournament. "We are so fortunate to have the support of so many businesses and individuals. Their committment toward education is evident in the continued support we receive each year. This tournament will help as many as 15 students each year. It's so gratifying to be a part of something like this and to see the generosity of people in this area."

In addition, Chapter AC PEO came out and provided a wonderful lunch for the participants who were treated to homemade chicken salad, chips, dip, and an array of delicious desserts. PEO members served as hostesses for the event and enjoyed visiting with the players throughout the day.

Gifford also thanked many Big Lake Country Club members who couldn't play for loaning their carts for the day. "With so many teams, we needed more carts than what the club has available. Mari Hayden of Leachville helped secure carts from many members who were willing to let us use their carts and we greatly appreciate that. Mrs. Hayden also donated the funds for the club's carts, so none of the participants were charged a cart rental fee," said Gifford.

The top three teams in each flight took home medals:

Championship Flight

First place: Matt Baker, Brizendine, Klien, Powell (56); second place: Terry Brewer, Dana Donner, Ken Eaton, Bob White (56); third place: Jim Goodman, Ronald Jones, Warren Matthews, Logan Wallace (58).

First Flight

First place: Jim Shemwell, Phil Beall, Mary Alice Dement, Greg Reece (61); second place: Charlie Harris, Chris Stuck, Chuck White, Dick Woodard (62); third place: Mike Bridges, Mari Hayden, Dick Pace, Hunter Smith (63).

Second Flight

First place: Zach Fahlberg, Nick Goodrich, Gary Higgins, Jeff Wicker (66); second Place: Robin Myers, Hunter Myers, Will Harrison, Mike Dobbins (66); third place: Tommy Eldrid, Nick Benafield, Gerald Charmichael, Roy Brymer (67).