By BRIANA HARRIS / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – The South Shelby Chamber of Commerce will host its annual 2016 Golf Tournament Thursday, Oct. 27, at Ballantrae Golf Club, 1300 Ballantrae Club Drive.

Each year the tournament is hosted at a different golf club in Shelby County, said South Shelby Chamber Director April Stone. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and the tournament will start at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided for golfers, volunteers and sponsors.

For the first time, a “bragging rights” trophy will be awarded to the winning team to keep until the next year’s tournament. Second and third place prizes will also be awarded.

Proceeds from the tournament benefit the chamber’s programs for South Shelby businesses and its scholarship fund for graduating seniors in public and private schools in Chelsea, Vincent and Columbiana.

“We try to raise as much money as we can to give scholarships to graduating seniors in the areas that we work the closest with,” Stone said.

For those who are unable to participate in the tournament, 100 percent of the proceeds from the South Shelby Chamber’s Boots and Bow Ties Silent Auction on Feb. 23, 2017 will also go toward the scholarship funds.

“There are lots of ways people can give to our scholarship fund,” Stone said.

Stone said the South Shelby Chamber’s goal is to raise enough money to give each student a $1,000 scholarship.

“We want to help students go to college so that after they graduate they’ll hopefully come back to Shelby County as a valuable part of our workforce,” Stone said.

Twenty-five teams of four have already signed up to participate in the tournament, but there is still space for about five more teams.

To become a sponsor or sign up for the tournament, contact Stone at 669-9075 or director@southshelbychamber.com.