By Jerry Love, LBF Communications
ALEXANDRIA – Tony Branham, a layman from First Baptist Church DeRidder, continued his solid play in the Fall 2016 Baptist Golf Fellowship as he reclaimed individual honors while helping his church to retain the team trophy.
Branham shot an impressive one-over par (73) at the 18-hole, par 72 Oak Wing Golf Course facility to earn the title of Grand Champion. Columbia’s Bruce McGee captured the grand champion title in the spring.
Last fall First DeRidder lost by two strokes to Unity Baptist Church, Cotton Valley. But the team, which included Branham, Dennis Millsap, Eddie Joslin and Billy Lofton, rebounded by reclaiming the team title in the spring and then cementing their hold on the trophy with a combined score of 307 in this year’s fall classic.
First DeRidder Pastor Josh Eubanks has devised an interesting use for the trophy. The large cup-style trophy is displayed in a prominent place and church members are encouraged to deposit money in it in support of missions. Several hundred dollars have been received in the last few months.
Fifty pastors and laymen enjoyed pleasant weather, good fellowship at the annual fall Baptist Golf Fellowship. Attendance was down as many regular participants were unable to attend due to ongoing flood recovery efforts.
The Fellowship, sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Foundation and the Baptist Message, is a time for pastors and laypersons to come together for a little light-hearted competition around the game of golf.
Medalist and Team play was completed on Monday afternoon.
During the evening banquet at the Baptist Building trophies were given for the best scores in Super Seniors (70 and above), Seniors (60-69), and Under-60 age brackets with each bracket divided into Ministers and Laymen.
Tuesday the Fellowship had a 4-Man Scramble in which teams are derived from the score rankings from Monday’s medalist play.
Prior to the start of the Scramble each player can purchase 2 Mulligans, which are sold for $5 each. A total of $350 was raised with the proceeds going to the Shepherd’s Fund, a ministry of the Louisiana Baptist Convention that assists retired ministers and wives with supplemental needs.
The winning team for the scramble was the threesome of Andrew Loewer, Samuel Forester and Josh Eubanks who shot a 59. It was reported that Andrew, a 14 year-old junior player, did much of the work in carrying them to victory.
The next Baptist Golf Fellowship will be held May 22-23, 2017 at Links on the Bayou in Alexandria. Watch for information in the Baptist Message or check the website of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation (www.LBFinfo.org) for details as the date approaches.
