Memorial golf tournament raises funds for substance abuse awareness

Sep 19, 2016

No one went home with a brand new GMC, but playing golf for fun and for a good cause on a sunny day was a prize in itself.

The third annual Brent Hastings Memorial Golf Tournament raised $12,500 while hosting 85 golfers at the Bay Pointe Club on Saturday afternoon.

Had any of the golfers managed to hit a hole-in-one, they would've went home with a brand new truck donated by Robertson's GMC.

With a shotgun start and a scramble-style tournament, golfers were free to play in whatever way they pleased.

The winners of the tournament were Bill Bacchiocci, Karl Cederholm, Keith Henderson and Bobby Henderson.

Proceeds from the tournament will go to the Herren Project via the Brent Hastings Memorial Fund. The Herren Project helps to increase awareness on the dangers of substance abuse and helps victims and families affected by it.

The Brent Hastings Memorial Fund was founded in 2014 as a way to honor the memory of Brent Hastings, who passed away from a heroin overdose in 2014.

Melodye Conway, organizer of the event and Hasting's mother, set up 2,661 purple flags on the lawn where the golfers waited for their shotgun start to symbolize all those who passed away from overdoses. A picture of her son stood in the middle of the presentation

The tournament has steadily grown in numbers and Conway said most of the golfers were there just to have fun.

"There are folks that have been coming back year after year," said Conway.

The tournament also featured a raffle with items and gift cards donated by many local businesses.

"I grew up here. My son was raised here," said Conway. "We have that local connection and the ability to draw from the community."