SML Lions begin Haley Tournament preparations

The 22nd annual Andrew Haley Memorial/Smith Mountain Lake Lions Junior Golf Tournament, 36 holes of stroke play, will be held July 16-17. The first day will be held at Mariners Landing Golf & Country Club in Huddleston. Golfers will play the second day at The Waterfront Country Club in Moneta.

The tournament is open to all amateur boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 18 with established handicaps. Junior golfers who have reached their 18th birthday are eligible unless they have started college. Players will be divided into divisions: boys ages 11-13, 14-15, and 16-18, and girls ages 11-14 and 15-18.

The field is limited to the first 120 entries. The entry fee is $70. A special reduced fee of $60 is available for any participant whose application is postmarked on or before June 16.

Participants will be entitled to one practice round at each golf course during the week before the tournament.

Lunch and range balls will be provided during the tournament.

The awards ceremony will take place at The Waterfront, where more than $3,000 in favors, trophies, plaques and prizes will be awarded. The tournament participants in each division also will compete in a long drive and putting contest.

The Andrew Haley Memorial Scholarship Fund will award two scholarships each in the amount of $750. The scholarships will not be based on individual performance in the junior golf tournament, but junior golfers ages 16-18 who participate in this year's tournament can apply by submitting a scholarship application. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony.

Gerry Lewis of the SML Lions Club is tournament chairman. Ric Heinemann, representing the Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame, is working with Adam Witt, head professional, and Superintendent Greg Haley at Mariners Landing. Ron Willard and The Willard Companies will again host this year's final day at The Waterfront, where Lion Joe Brown is working with Mark McKee, PGA, head pro. The second day of play will be dedicated to the memory of former SML Lion Lee Weisnicht, who died in April. Weisnicht created the SML Lions Junior Golf Tournament in 1991 and served as its chairman until 1997.

For information on sponsorships and donations, contact Tom Smith at 297-3227. Download copies of the tournament application and the scholarship application at haleylionsjrgolf.com. The website also offers online pre-registration, player information, tee times and live posting of scores for each round. For more information, contact Gerry Lewis, committee chairman, at 352-7714 orgerry.lewis@mindspring.com.