It is time again for the annual Golf Tournament to benefit Special Olympics Area 7 and this year’s tournament will be held on Saturday at the Duncan Park golf course. This tournament has become a favorite of area golfers because it benefits the Southwest Area 7 of the Mississippi Special Olympics. All funds raised stay locally to benefit our area Special Olympian athletes with sporting events and activities. One of the best and most enjoyable parts of this tournament is that the players have a chance to play golf with some of our special athletes. If you have never played golf with a special athlete you don’t know what you are missing. It gives you a chance to see an example of the unconditional love of God through these athletes that only understand love. The generosity of local businesses and individuals in our area community is overwhelming to say the least.

Every year our athletes have a chance to participate in the Mississippi Special Olympics summer games at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi,  and each area is responsible for raising funds to help pay expenses for this event. This tournament is our only fundraiser each year. Southwest Area 7 serves more than 200 athletes from Adams, Amite, Jefferson, Franklin and Wilkinson counties, as well as athletes from Concordia Parish. This year’s games will be the weekend of May 19-21, and usually 60-70 of our athletes get the opportunity to attend this event.

This year’s tournament will be a four-man scramble as in the past, and tee time will be at 8:30 a.m. At this time we still have a few team slots available and cost per team is $300 but these won’t last long. So, if you are interested in having a team please contact me as soon as possible. Also you can support this tournament by sponsoring a tee-hole for $100, sponsor an athlete to play for $75, donate door prizes or make a donation in support of this event.  Lunch, refreshments and plenty of door prizes as well as a silent auction will be held. At the end of the tournament we will have a ball drop sponsored by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office for $3,000 in cash for closest ball to the hole or in the hole and $500 for the second closest ball. Plenty of tickets are still available at $20 each and are available from any of our committee members or you can contact me for your ticket. Only 350 balls will be sold, so hurry before they are all gone.

It is a fact that businesses and individuals of the Miss-Lou area are the most caring and generous people in the world and without your support these athletes would not have a chance to participate in the events they do. Area 7 Director Tommie Jones and the committee of volunteers work very hard behind the scenes to make this one of the best and most popular tournaments held in our area every year. Most are parents of our athletes and generous caring volunteers. Without their help and hard work this tournament would not be possible.

Lunch will be provided by the Concordia Parish and Adams County Sheriff’s offices. Plenty of refreshments will be provided by many local vendors who are so generous with their donations. Hole-in-one prizes are courtesy of Great River Nissan and sponsor signs are donated by Southern Signs.

Your financial support and generosity for this special event is appreciated and if you would like to help out, you can make your donation to: Special Olympics Area 7, and mail to: Ricky Warren, 108 Tanglewood Road, Natchez, MS 39120.

If you have any questions you can call me at 601-597-4724. Our special athletes and their families thank you for your generosity and for allowing them the opportunity to participate in Special Olympics sporting events and activities throughout the year.
Ricky Warren is one of the many volunteers of the golf tournament committee and a proud parent of a Special Olympics athlete.