The temperatures and competitive spirit were high at the Farmville Municipal Golf Course recently as golfers from around the region hit the links during the 34th annual Louis Bridgforth Golf Tournament. Sponsored by the Farmville Lions Club and presented this year by The Woodland, the tournament is the club’s signature fundraising event. Monies raised through sponsorships, donations and fees help the club support Lions Club International programs benefitting sight and hearing conservation efforts and diabetes awareness, as well as provide support for local programs throughout the Farmville area.

First place in the annual event went to the team from Luck Stone with second place going to the Hampton Inn team. Francisco’s Restoration took home third place with the team from the Town of Farmville securing the fourth-place spot. Rounding out the field of teams were players from Haley Auto Mall, The Woodland, Encore Rehabilitation Services, Healthcare Services Group (HSG), Puckett Funeral Home, Colonial Farm Credit, Stokes Construction and Ram Rod.

“We had 12 teams from around the area and as far away as Richmond participating in this year’s event,” Tournament Chair Lion Tim Cook said. “Some teams have been participating almost as long as we’ve been sponsoring the tournament. It is really exciting to see them return year after year and still look forward to the next year’s event.”

The 90-plus degree heat did not deter spirits of the golfers or the volunteers as chefs from The Woodland teamed with casual lunch sponsor HSG and beverage sponsor CENTRA Southside Community Hospital during play. Encore Rehabilitation Services’ buffet dinner and awards ceremony capped the day complete with golf-inspired raffles.

Hole-in-one contests sponsored by Davis GMC and Haley Auto Group offered the chance for lucky players to drive home a new vehicle provided by each of the dealers. While no players scored the prizes this year, they plan to try again in 2017.

For the first time, the event included chipping and putting contests that allowed players three opportunities each to test their skills. Noel Encarnacion, of the Hampton Inn team, won the chipping contest by hitting his ball to within 18 inches of the cup. Sponsored by B&M Greenhouse, Benchmark Community Bank and Davenport & Co., LLC, the contest positioned players in the rough below the clubhouse green. Jason Toombs, of the Haley Auto Mall team, sank a 30-foot putt to win the putting contest sponsored by Lion Kim & Hannah Boswell, Ellington Energy Services and Express Car Care.

Hole sponsors contributed $250 each to defray the costs of the event, committee member Janet Bunnell said. “These sponsors enable us to support programs in our community in exchange for having their company names associated with the tournament.”

First-time hole sponsors Uptown Coffee Café and FarmvilleSigns.com were joined by Beauty Mart/Beauty & Fashion, Farmville Cars, First Bank, ICA of Farmville, Puckett Funeral Home, Southside Optical Center with the Town of Farmville and WVHL Kickin’ Country.

Returning hole sponsors included The Carpet House, Citizens Bank and Trust, Edward Jones/Kerby Moore, Farmville Wholesale Electric Company, Fourth Street Motor Company and Green Front Furniture, along with Hampton Inn, Honeycutt & McGuire CPAs, Parker Oil Services, State Wide Realty, W.A. Watson & Sons and W.C. Newman Company.

Student volunteers from the Longwood Speech, Hearing and Learning Center and Hampden-Sydney College joined Farmville Lions members as they distributed beverages and provided support to golfers weathering the blistering heat. According to Lion Tom McBride, student volunteer coordinator for the event, 17 students in total were introduced to a piece of what the Farmville Lions have been doing in the community for the past 94 years.

“Without the help of these students and the members of our club, we would not be able to put on this event,” Cook said. “They not only work the day of the tournament, but our members have been combing the community for weeks developing contest and hole sponsors so this event accomplishes its purpose.”

This year’s event netted more than $11,000 which will be put to work for vision, hearing and diabetes awareness programs here at home and on a global scale, according to Cook. “We cannot thank our sponsors and teams enough for the support they provide for these programs.”

In addition to cash sponsorships, prizes and gift certificates were donated by Sleeping Bee, Vellie’s Boutique, Hibbett Sports and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Celebrating its 94th year in civic service to the Farmville-Prince Edward-Cumberland communities, the Farmville Lions Club meets the first and third Tuesdays at noon in the Community Center at The Woodland. To learn more about the Farmville Lions Club, contact President Greg Cole at (434) 392-6106, find them on Facebook at FarmvilleLionsClubVA or visit the club’s website at www.e-clubhouse.com/sites/farmvilleva.