DEMOPOLIS–The Marengo County chapter of the University of West Alabama Alumni Association hasn’t been the most active of organizations, admits UWA Director of Alumni Affairs Rob McInturf. But the golf tourney the chapter hosted last Saturday at the Ravine golf course is a start, he says.

“There are 900 UWA graduates living in Marengo County,” he says. “We just need to get the ball rolling and we can do some great things.”

Not that the funds raised by Saturday’s tournament won’t help do some great things by itself. All of the proceeds will go towards providing scholarships for Marengo County high school students to attend UWA. Between the money raised from the tournament and a generous endowment made by a UWA alumnus, the Marengo County chapter will be able to offer six such scholarships next year.

The tournament organizers admitted that the turnout for the tournament, a former annual event restarted this year, wasn’t quite what they had hoped for. But McInturf was positive, noting that everyone involved seemed to have a good time and the experience would help lay the groundwork for next year’s event–and other chapter events later this year.

“You have to start somewhere,” he said.

It’s a point of view chapter President Steve Henderson agrees with.

“We’re a little disappointed with the turnout,” he says, noting that other area golf tournaments may have played a role, “but we’re very appreciative of everybody who did come out to help us provide scholarships to students who deserve them.”

The tournament was a two-man scramble split into two separate flights, with cash and door prizes awarded. Father-and-son combo Wayne and Carter Echols took first place in Flight 1 while Tom and Tony Cameron took first in the other flight.