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6.24.09
Steve Southwell, Ralph Patterson and Chris Bethea
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Thirty-fifth Erskine Open draws nearly 80 golfers
About 80 Erskine College and Seminary alumni, friends, faculty and staff turned out despite sweltering heat to participate in the 35th Annual Erskine Open golf tournament at Hunter's Creek Golf and Country Club on Friday, June 19, in Greenwood.
The annual tournament raises funds to help defray the cost of the Erskine Athletic Hall of Fame banquet, scheduled every other year at Homecoming.
A putting contest kicked off the day's events and Erskine Assistant Baseball Coach Chad Amidon was the winner. Amidon won a new driver for his efforts, then auctioned off the club and donated the proceeds to the college.
Following a brief welcoming program in which players were given the rules for the day by Erskine Golf Coach Jason Allen and words of encouragement by Erskine President Randall T. Ruble, the Captain’s Choice format event began.
Once all the golfers were back in the clubhouse, it was announced that a quartet of alumni had won the tournament. Bubba Ross '71, Steve Garris '68, Ted Whiteside '00 and Albert Whiteside '68 teamed up to take first-place honors and captured the Vardon Trophy 2009 for winning the Erskine Open. The trophy is named in honor of and was donated by Erskine Men's Tennis Coach Vardon Cox. The winners also received $100 gift certificates to the Hunter's Creek Golf Shop and boxes of imprinted Erskine Open balls.
Taking second place in the event was the team of Sam Oates '82, Dusty Oates '77, Richard Oates '80 and Campbell Oates. That team received boxes of imprinted Erskine Open balls.
Bob Thompson '71 won both the longest drive and closest to the pin competitions and received a golf bag and DVD player in recognition of his skill.
Palmetto Insurance of Anderson sponsored a $10,000 hole-in-one prize that went unclaimed by any of the participants.
"The tournament was a great success based on the amount of fun that was had and the positive expressions of support for Erskine by all those participating," Director of Alumni Affairs Buddy Ferguson said. "I truly appreciate the time spent by our staff and the generous support of our alumni and friends that made this event such a wonderful time."
Hole sponsors were: Jesse Medlock '62, Andy Byrd '88, Michael Helms, Steve Phelps and Tom Battle (Morgan-Stanley/Smith-Barney), Langford Construction Co. (La Grange, Ga.), Larry and Lynn Nycum, Gary Tipton (The Banks Tipton Group/Merrill Lynch), Harry and Reba Stille, Award & Sports (Greenville/Eddie Moore), Erskine Theological Seminary, Flying Fleet Club, James Corley ’05 (Apex Sign Shop, Aiken), Ted Huie (Erskine Planned Giving Office), and Robert Galloway (Haynesworth, Sinkler and Boyd).
Additional prizes were provided by Erskine College (Jimmy Barnes), Ranny Rankin (Palmetto Insurance), Andy Byrd, The Golf Doctor, Aramark, Vardon Cox, TaylorMade Golf and the Erskine Alumni Office.
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