The Dani V. Bone & Sam D. Bone Etowah County Open golf tournament will be held from September 17-19 at the Links at Briarmeade in Glencoe.
The tournament has been played every year since 1970. The original tournament was played at Goodyear Golf Club. J.C. Simmons won the first two tournaments.
Beginning in 1972, the tournament was played at Gulf States Steel Golf Club until 1987. Billy Fry won the first tournament at that venue.
In 1987, Randy Spurlin won the first tournament played at Briarmeade Golf Links. The event has been played at Briarmeade every year since then.
“I’m extremely proud of being a past champion of the Etowah County Open,” said Spurlin when asked what the tournament meant to him. “I remember it like it was yesterday. Winning in a playoff was even more special. I beat a guy named Joel Vealsco who later played on the champions tour.
“Winning this tournament also brings you instant credibility among other past champions like Stanley Hawkins, Ty Cole, Scott Smith, Randy Lipscomb and Mark Cantrell, just to name a few. It’s a hard tournament to win, and I guess everything went my way that weekend in 1987. It’s a huge honor to be a past champion.”
Last year’s winner was Gary Wiginton from Anniston. Seven different people have won the tournament more than once, including Stanley Hawkins, Scott Smith, Ty Cole, J.C. Simmons, Randy Lipscomb, Alan Smedley and Steve Honda.
Hawkins, from Gadsden, won the tournament 11 times.
“What does winning the Etowah County Open mean to me? Trying to be the best golfer in the county that year, the end of another golf season, seeing some old friends and meeting some new younger friends. It’s the county championship, bottom line. Tee it up and let’s go!”
Participants may choose whether to play on Friday or Saturday, but not on both days. Players will be paired for the final round on Sunday.
Submitted by Sam Bone
Etowah County Open set for this weekend at Briarmeade
