Blueberry Golf Bash

Golf chiefs: Co-chairs Trish Clayton and Ralph Ervin, both capable managers at Etech, Inc., by day, and tournament raconteurs in their volunteer hours.

Raising Cane's feeds the hungry athletes.


Top Team: Miller Lite

CMC Recycling's Larry Walker, right, advises on chipping.
Walker won a brand new golf bag from R&K Distributors in the raffle.

Coca-Cola's Mike Andress lines up a putt on the fifteenth hole, under the watchful eyes of his teammates.

Thirty-four teams of golfers descended on Piney Woods Country Club on Friday, May 2, for the Chamber's 11th Annual Blueberry Golf Bash.

Although meteorologists called for rain and wind, the weather held for the event, with only light sprinkles in the early morning.

Taking first place was the Miller Lite team of Chris Thomas, Jeff Trimble, Robert Seacrest and Gary Steffey.

Second place went to Texas Pro Bowl's team of Kevin J, Mike Buchanan, Tom Corbitt and a Mystery Golfer (at least to us. Call us!)

Third place went to Kenco Golf Car's Jim Milam, Jack Raines, Sammy Duncan and Tony Varvel.

Fourth Place went to Sowell Podiatry's Wayne Harris, Robert Crow, Mark Sowell and Darren Roberts.

The shot shapers and hackers were equally well-fed with lunch courtesy of Raising Cane's, and supper courtesy of the Smokehouse and Pilgrim's Pride. Parched lips were avoided with the help of Nacogdoches Coca-Cola, R&K Distributors and Pineywoods Beverage. Academy Sports + Outdoors traversed Baja Nacogdoches and crossed the perilous Angelina River to manage the putting contest. Accent Foods and Citizens 1st Bank sponsored the carts. Amazingly, only golfer LeAnn Riley decided it was such a nice day, she'd walk.

Many thanks to Etech Inc's Trish Clayton and Ralph Ervin, who co-chaired the event, and their loyal band of committee members. A special tip of the golf cap to Doug Brown, Don Silva and Sherry Silva, for their expertise and longtime commitment to the tournament. Photographer Robin Dawley and Raffle Wrangler Jan Dawley performed so well. Online Auctioneers Michelle Smith and Lindsey Vardemann outwrestled the electrons with aplomb. Gap Broadcasting's Ron Johnson, Danny Merrill and Sean Ericson broadcast our messages effortlessly. Our team wouldn't have been complete without Teresa Darby, Kathy Joslyn, Brian Stevens, Kim Luna Snyder, Steve Whitbeck and Bobby Bridwell. There would have been no Bash without this Merry Band. Thank you, Women of The Sports Shack, for without you, how could we have sold so many raffle tickets? And the sorority sisters of Zeta Tau Alpha were super-accurate hole-in-one auditors. We picked up several day-of-event helpers (Michael! Lace!) whose names will soon appear here in full glory!

Chamber staffers Kelly Daniel and Ennetta Dunn also helped immensely in organization and execution. Chamber info specialist Sherry Banks held down the fort while the rest of the staff exited for tournament activities.Pineywoods Country Club staff were gracious hosts - thanks to Joe Anderson and his capable crew.

(Visit this blog again soon - we're just getting started with thank-yous! And many more photos will appear here and elsewhere!)