Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1025129
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM SEPTEMBER 12-18, 2018 UCW 15 of the exposure ... and the recognition you get among your family and friends and coworkers. It's really different than any other tournament you play in.'' West used to be active in tournaments on the state and national level, but there's still something about the Cumberland County Golf Championship that sets it apart from everything else. "ere just wasn't the same recognition you get from playing well in the county championship,'' West said. "at always made it special. My favorite tournament has followed me through my lifetime.'' A hallmark of the tournament for West is the ca- maraderie that comes with it. He considers himself one of the older guys in the field now, joining a long list of names like Jon Riddle, Gene Howell, Mike Williford, Gary Robinson and Gary Moore who have been in the field for upwards of 30 years. But he said it's not just a tournament for veterans. "e new folks like omas Owen have embraced and understand how significant it is to the golfing community,'' West said. West said he's hitting the ball well and playing decent coming into this year's event and hopes he's got a chance at victory. "Anybody will tell you it comes down to getting a few breaks and putting well,'' he said. "Getting the ball in the hole. at's the big unknown. You won't know until you get into the weekend.'' West said he never tires of that final round on Sunday, being in the hunt for the championship. "ere's nothing quite like it,'' he said. Owen said this will only be his fifth time playing in the CCGC, but it already means a lot to him because of the deep tradition in Fayetteville golf going back to legends like Chip Beck and Raymond Floyd. He also has a strong connection to West. "As a kid, I looked up to Billy,'' Owen said. "He's become a great friend and kind of a golf mentor to me.'' Owen feels he's had better success in match play competition than stroke play, but he's hoping expe- rience in tournaments like the CCGC will improve his efforts in stroke competition. "I'm glad to see this championship revitalized by Bill Bowman and Up & Coming Weekly,'' Owen said. "When (hearing) stories about how there used to be hundreds of peo- ple in the tournament on different golf courses, you wish you were a part of that.'' After a good summer of tournament golf, includ- ing the Carolinas Amateur and the North Carolina Amateur, Owen feels he's ready for another try at the CCGC title. "Golf is a fickle game,'' he said. "For me, a lot of it comes down to driving and putting. You've got to put it in the fairway and make some putts.'' e course and format Kevin Levertu, general manager at Gates Four Golf & Country Club, said this year's participants and spectators won't be seeing any major changes in the tournament. e entry fee for the flighted tourna- ment will be $175 for men and $145 for women. e entry fee includes range balls, a commemo- rative gift, trophies, prizes and an invitation to the pre-tournament pairings party on ursday in the main ballroom at Gates Four. "is is the biggest event of the year,'' Levertu said. "People pull out of other events to make sure they are geared for this event. People want their name on that trophy. It continues to push forward and thrive with the resurgence of Up & Coming Weekly coming on board to make sure it's around another 50 years.'' Despite the blistering heat in recent weeks, Lever- tu said the course is in great shape for the tourna- ment. "We need to continue irrigating and make sure we keep the greens from drying out,'' he said. Spectators are reminded that they will not have access to carts during the tournament, and they are asked while walking the course to adhere to the rules and stay on the cart paths. For those who don't want to walk to watch the golfers, Levertu said there are areas around the new pavilion at the clubhouse where they can sit and view action on multiple holes. "at would be a good place to see some good golf,'' he said. Giving back ere will be a cere- mony recognizing the winners in the pavilion after the tournament. During the ceremony, Bowman will make a donation to the Kids- ville News Literacy & Education Foundation and the Kay Yow Can- cer fund. Founded in 2011, e Kidsville News Literacy & Education Founda- tion is a recognized nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation under the laws of the state of North Carolina and provides free reading and educational resources to Cumberland County and Fort Bragg schools. In addition, the foundation awards grants to qualified organizations for the purpose of pro- moting education and improving literacy among America's youth. e Kay Yow Cancer Fund was founded in 2007 from the vision of Kay Yow, former N.C. State Uni- versity head women's basketball coach. "It was DeeDee Jarman who advocated for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund," Bowman said. "She thought it would tie in nicely while developing the CCGC Women's Division." Chasity Melvin is a former Lakewood High School and N.C. State basketball star who led the Wolfpack to the North Carolina Athletic Association Women's Final Four and played 12 seasons in the Women's National Basketball Association. She was inducted in the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. She is currently the coordinator of development for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. "e Kay Yow Cancer Fund is a homegrown, non- profit organization here in North Carolina, started by our late, great mentor, hall of fame coach, N.C. State's Kay Yow, who was extraordinary," Melvin said. "She had a vision to raise money for all cancer research affecting women. Even though she battled breast cancer most of her coaching career, she didn't want to just fund one cancer. She wanted to fund all research affecting women with all cancers and serve the under-served. "She didn't care. Small, big, multi-billion-dollar companies, she was all about uniting communities for a common cause. She really felt like whenever some- one wanted to participate or sponsor the cancer fund, she was really adamant about getting the community involved, uniting them and spreading awareness. "I ... want to just say a special thank you to Bill Bowman for really taking charge and bringing more awareness back to this golf tournament. Personally, from my own standpoint, working in a nonprofit organization and working at the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, I know how challenging it can be to get people onboard. Once they really learn what the cause is they're supporting, you can't help but want to be a part of it. I'm glad he sees the big picture. It's so much more than golf. It's so much more than mon- ey. For him to get behind the cause that affects many women in North Carolina, especially rural areas outside of Fayetteville, this is really great.'' Register for the 50th CCGC online at www.cumberlandcountygolfclassic.com. Email klavertu@gatesfour.com or call 940-425-6667 with questions. Eight-time CCGC champion Gary Robinson (left) chats with seven-time champion Billy West (right). Who will take the trophy this year? Relative newcomer Thomas Owen won the CCGC in 2016. Photo cre- dit: Carolinas Golf Association Mac Healy (left) and Billy Richardson (right) are two of the tournament's strongest supporters. EARL VAUGHAN JR., Sports Editor. COMMENTS? EarlUCWSports@ gmail.com. 910-364-6638.