It was a red-letter day for the LBW Community College/Camellia City Classic golf tournament, but the color was green for both the school and golfers alike.

The 11th annual golf tournament serves as one of the premiere fundraising opportunities for the college, and this year continued the trend as LBW raised more than $31,000.

According to LBW Community College vice president and director Jim Krudop, it’s one of the best years the school has experienced.

“We’re still getting our expenses in so we can see how much we’ve cleared, but we know it’s going to be significant,” Krudop said.

“Raising $31,000 in Greenville is pretty impressive for the support of the community, and of course we have players that come from outside of the community, too.  We generally have a good representation, and that of course helps bring some money to Greenville, as well.”

The first-place winners, with a score of 51.1, were Steve Barlow and Jimmy Black, both residents of Andalusia, Charles Clarke of Enterprise and Clayton Bryant, also of Andalusia.

Out-of-towners similarly comprised the second place team as Covington Electric Cooperative team members Ricky Smith, Mark Parker, Alan Thrash and Ed Short claimed the No. 2 spot with a score of 53.

Butler County residents rounded out the top three with the team of James Packer and Mark Landers, alongside Pelham resident Todd Billings, for third place with a score of 53.2.

But the real winners, according to Krudop, were Butler County students.

“It’s been a great achievement, and it says a lot about the community of Greenville and Butler County because they come forward with lots of dollars, and they help support many scholarships,” Krudop said. “And that’s the proof in the pudding—the number of students it’s helped. 

“We sponsor dual enrollment program scholarships, because those students cannot be eligible for federal grants or anything while they’re in school.  So we teamed up with the schools themselves, including Butler County Schools and Fort Dale, to come up with that scholarship program so they can get college credit for those courses that we teach in the high school. And that helps them have a better chance to possibly pursue a degree.”

Krudop said that there are a number of factors that play into the success of the tournament each year.

“Cambrian Ridge is a premiere place to play golf,” Krudop said. “Bryan Reynolds and those folks know how to put on a tournament.  Their courses are pristine, they’re organized, and it’s just a perfect place to be.

“Secondly, it offers golfers an opportunity and a place to play, and a good cause to play for.  Some of them just like to play golf, and they say, ‘well shoot, we can help the college.’

“But the bottom line is that when you get so many people who sponsor and put up some pretty big bucks for no other reason than to support the college and those scholarships and special projects for the Greenville campus, it’s great.”