A Fitting memorial
Greenbrier senior plans golf tourney as memorial to friends
A simple drive in the country is enough to bring the memories cascading back for Patrick Crawford.
When the Greenbrier High School senior hits a drive off the first tee at his home golf course in Lincoln County, his concentration is divided between the past and present.
Even the name of the Greenbrier teacher acting as adviser for Crawford's senior project provides an ironic reminder.
April Loss is the teacher, and another April loss has taught Crawford more then he ever wanted to know.
"What happened is hard for Patrick and for all the boys on the team," Greenbrier golf coach Clint Woodfin said. "I'm willing to bet they all still think about it every single day, just like me."
The memory is not a happy one.
On April 15 last year, Greenbrier golfers Daniel Hall and Shane Williams were traveling to a prep match at Rocky Branch Golf Club near Lincolnton. Just a mile from the course, they were killed in an automobile crash, which also injured teammates Matthew Barman and Michael Barman.
From that point on, everything changed for the Greenbrier family, and initially Crawford couldn't even visit Rocky Branch without heart-wrenching results.
"Right after it happened, I took a different route," Crawford said. "Now I just ride by (the accident site) and I'll stop and look sometimes. There's a memorial there, and I'll take time to straighten it up. It's a nice little place to go."
Crawford has found additional peace in what would otherwise be considered taxing work - for his senior project at Greenbrier, Crawford is presenting the inaugural Daniel Hall & Shane Williams Memorial Golf Tournament.
The tournament will be played Saturday at Rocky Branch, and the funds raised will go toward helping build a golf practice area at Greenbrier in memory of the fallen golfers.
"I'll run the tournament the first year, then Nick Williams (Shane's father) will carry it on after I leave," Crawford said. "I've had experience of playing in golf tournaments, and didn't think it would be that tough to organize one, but it's been tougher than I expected."
Along with writing a research paper, Crawford arranged the details (such as prices and tournament prizes), and met with Rocky Branch golf professional Al Holloway to secure the venue. He also sent out forms to businesses seeking hole sponsorships, and spread the word to prospective players in order to fill out the field.
"I would imagine he had one of the more difficult projects of all the seniors," Woodfin said. "This shows how much Daniel and Shane meant to Patrick, and how important golf is in his life."
Members of the Wolfpack golf team will lend a hand at the tourney as well. "We're all pretty close," Crawford said. "I've got plenty of support."
Crawford hopes to have 30 teams compete in the four-man Lauderdale format, and he doesn't want the memorial to be a somber event.
"I hope people enjoy themselves," he said. "It's terrible what happened, but the reason we're doing this is so they'll be remembered. I want everybody to have a good time, and don't want it to be a sad thing."
Crawford said he might play Saturday, if a spot opens up, but he is mainly focusing his attention on running the tournament.
"It's going to be first-class," Woodfin said. "That's the only way Patrick would do it."
Crawford has been working on his senior project since September, and the job won't be over after the final putt drops this weekend. He will take photos at the tournament to use as part of a multimedia presentation before a panel of judges in late March.
All the research and effort concludes when Crawford details his senior project to the judges, and he won't be worried about making a good grade.
"That might be the most emotional part, when I start talking about it," Crawford said. "I might start thinking deeply about everything, but I'm confident it will come out all right. It wasn't like I just went out and did some random thing that really didn't mean anything to me."
Every senior in the Columbia County school system is required to do a senior project, which weighs heavily toward their final grades.
Another significant aspect of the senior projects is to give students an important life experience.
Crawford seems set to score an ace on both counts.
"This project is something he can look back on and be proud of," Woodfin said. "He didn't do something easy. He did this for a great cause."