2012 Old Friends Golf Invitational

Mallory Biering, Contributing Writer

As the words of songs like, Under the Boardwalk, rang out into the night, couples shagged away under the tent at the Paw Paw Country Club Saturday. The night was full of that hot and sticky South Carolina heat we know so well in Bamberg. However, the sticky heat did not keep this group of people away from the golf course on Friday and Saturday for the Old Friends Golf Invitational.

This is the 30th anniversary of the invitational, which has raised money for the community, as well as, a scholarship for a deserving Bamberg Ehrhardt High School (BEHS) graduating senior; this year that lucky senior was Michaela Cornforth.

The community of Bamberg was more than willing to help raise the money and supplies needed to host the invitational. Some businesses like the E-Z Shop, Bamberg Piggly Wiggly, and Tagadu's donated money to help fund the tournament or donated gifts such as, an I-Pad, gas cards, and a golf bag for winners of a drawing. Elizabeth Weaver, a co-chair of the invitational, shared her gratefulness for the local businesses and community for all the donations made to make the event such a huge success.

As the band took their first break, Tom Cornforth, Golf-Pro of Paw Paw, handed out the awards to the winners of the 2-Day Tournament. As each winner came forth to receive their crystal, the crowd echoed out with support and applause. The joy which filled the air is a reminder to every senior at BEHS, of the hope for a brighter future, and that the community surrounding them is cheering for them to succeed in every aspect of their life.

Old Friends Golf Invitation Results

Junior Results:
Girls Under 8
Reagan Benton

Girls 11-13
1st – Emily Benton
2nd – Sarah Glenn

Boys 9 and Under
1st – Harris Holstein
2nd – Landon Brown

Boys 10-12
1st – Kort Free
2nd – Graham Wilson

Boys 13-14
1st – Cameron Bunch
2nd – Parker Free

Boys 15-18
1st – Eric Smith
2nd – Austin Brown

Ladies Tournament:
Ladies Putting
1st – Lisa Thomas
2nd – Ginny Williams
3rd – Kathy Schwarting
4th – Dena Hartzog

Low Gross:
Vicki Reilly
Amanda Dempsey
Ashley Harsey
and Vicki Lyman

Low Net:
Jackie Cook
Bretta Cook
Carolina Long
and Brooke Girdeau

Shootout and Long Drive (Friday)
Brantley Free

Closest to the Pin (Friday)
Mike Withrow

Closest to the Pin (Saturday)
Evans Johnson

Long Drive (Saturday)
Steven Carter

Overall 2-Day Winners:
1st – Michael Osborne (140)
2nd – Eric Smith (144)
3rd – Chris Moore (145)

5th Flight:
2nd Place – Randy and Ronny Maxwell, Bobby Lawrence, and Bobby Thomas
1st Place – Tommy Trantham, Evans and Bill Johnson, and Bob Bruns

4th Flight:
2nd Place – Steven Carter, Matt Kemp, Riley Maxwell, and Lee Kearse
1st Place – R. M. Singletary, Tommy Edwards, Mike Brown, and Marc Tye

3rd Flight:
2nd Place – Brab, Lee, and David McCully, and Stuart Marcus
1st Place – Alton, David, and Johnathan Hutto, and David Horton

2nd Flight:
2nd Place – Buzzy and Brad Bunch, Ray Brummel, and Dell Brown
1st Place – Colin Weaver, Rett Rutland, Robert Williams, and Glen Jeffcoat

1st Flight:
2nd Place – Ricky, Donna and Austin Brown, and Leslie Bonnette
1st Place – Carl Gooding, Gene Sease, Kevin Griffin, and Perry Buckner

Overall Winners:
Buggs and Kevin Fanning, David Song, and Gary Downes

Wilson Named

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter

At Thursday night’s Old Friends Invitational Golf Classic Banquet, Bamberg native Jimmy Wilson was named the 2013 Old Friends Honorary Chairperson.

2012 Old Friends Honorary Chairperson, Beth Pregnall, who introduced Wilson, noted that he was involved in many aspects of the community “in a very quite role, a behind the scenes kind of guy.” Pregnall noted that Wilson did not miss a Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School football or baseball game until the birth of his first grandchild.

Wilson has served as a volunteer baseball and football coach for more than 40 years in Bamberg. At his church he has volunteered his time for others and annually makes snow cones for the church’s VBS. Wilson, one of four siblings, graduated from Bamberg High School and was a member of the 1963 State Championship Football Team. He and wife Garnet, are the proud parents of three sons and seven grandchildren, whom he follows “religiously” in all their activities.

Scholarship Recipient

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter

The highlight of the Old Friends Invitational Golf Classic week is the awarding of the L. Joseph Land four year Scholarship to a deserving young person in the Bamberg community. On Thursday evening, at the Scholarship Banquet held in the commons area at Bamberg Ehrhardt High School, Michaela Cornforth, who is the daughter of Tom and Sharon Cornforth of Bamberg, was named the 2012 Recipient of the Old Friends Scholarship. Michaela is a graduate of Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School and is the valedictorian of the class of 2012. She is an active member of her school and community. Cornforth is a member of the youth group and choir at the First Baptist Church of Bamberg. She has taken dance from Mary Jane’s School of Dance for 15 years and has taken piano lessons for 10 years.

While at BEHS, Cornforth was a student council member, Fellowship of Christian Athletes member, a 2011 Girls State Delegate and a member of the varsity softball team.

Cornforth, who in the fall plans to attend the University of South Carolina and major in Exercise Science and continue her education to become a physical therapist, thanked the Old Friends Scholarship Committee for selecting her as the 2012 Scholarship recipient.