The largest annual fundraiser for one of the city’s most benevolent groups exceeded expectations this year when Demopolis Rotary Club held its charity golf tournament earlier this month.

“Everything went really well,” tournament co-chair Bill Meador said. Meador is in his second year helping to oversee the tournament, but credited his fellow chairperson and his predecessor for the success of the event.

“It’s really a three-man lead team with (co-chair) Joe (Parr), Jay (Reynolds) and me,” Meador said.

The 38th annual event saw the top prize go to Demopolis native Justin Elliott, a former Southern Miss golfer who reportedly shot 99 over 27 holes to win the draw.

“Paul Garner was the medalist,” Meador said of the player who had the lowest score through 18 holes of play.

Aside from offering some of the most competitive play in the event’s history, the 2011 installment of the tournament posted some of the most impressive numbers in the club’s history.

“We raised right at $9,000. Last year we did about $6,700,” Meador said. “We had 87 golfers, which is up from 82 from previous years.”

With respect to the three-man team that helped oversee the event, Meador said the biggest factor for the success of this year’s tournament was the army of volunteers.

“The number of sponsors was up this year and the number of golfers was up,” Meador said. “We had so much help. We had over 20 volunteers who got out and beat the bushes for sponsors. We have a generally loyal following of golfers who want to play in this thing.”

The event serves as the organization’s primary fundraiser and sees half the funds go to Camp ASCCA, Alabama’s Special Camp for Children and Adults.

“Half the money goes to Camp ASCCA and half the money stays here,” Meador said .”We do a lot of work here locally.”

The Demopolis Rotary Club also helps out with Harriet’s House and a number of other local causes.