Postponed golf tournament turns out better than expected

A postponement because of rain can ruin a golf tournament; however, the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce's second annual golf tournament actually benefited from a three-day postponement because of threatening thunderstorms.

The one-day tournament was originally scheduled for Sept. 19 but threatening storms forced tournament organizers to move the event, held at Champions Retreat in Evans, to Friday.

"We've had perfect weather," Sid Barron, the vice president and general manager of Hank Aaron Jaguar Land Rover, a major sponsor of the event, said after concluding a round of golf Friday. "We had to cancel Tuesday, but it's worked out even better for us."

Gordon Renshaw, the executive director of the chamber, said several golfers who couldn't attend the event Tuesday were able to play Friday. Four of those golfers made up a team from University Health Care System. The original four golfers on the team were unable to play Friday. As a result, replacements were found to fill in, and those substitutes, Jason Pledger, Gary Foguf, Johnny Melles and Ryan Flynn, ended up winning the golf tournament.

Two other golfers, Dave Dilliard and Adam Harris, came within inches of hitting a hole-in-one. Dilliard's shot came on the Island Course's sixth hole, and an ace would have given him a new Jaguar.

"I was this close to driving a black Jaguar to church on Sunday," Dilliard said.

The festivities were just getting started at the golf tournament's conclusion. A live auction and a VIP reception was also added this year to allow nongolfers a chance to get involved. Renshaw said plans are already in the works for even more improvements in years to come.

"We want to make sure it's a quality event for our chamber members," he said. "We're looking for a whole other level next year."