Photo by Bonnie Heater Don Edwards, a member of the Leader College for Information Technology four-man team gets in some practice time before the start of the Signal Corps Regimental Association's Annual Golf Scramble held May 1 at the Gordon Lakes Golf Courses. Fort Gordon members hit the greens May 1 at the Gordon Lakes Golf Courses to raise money for local charities.

More than $1,700 was raised at the Signal Corps Regimental Association Adolphus Greely Chapter Annual Golf Scramble, according to Rodolfo Fuentes, the event planner.

Thirteen teams making up 49 players participated in this fundraiser, according to Kris Ellis, 442nd Signal Battalion commander. "The proceeds will be used to support the various activities of the Adolphus Greely Chapter of the SCRA," said the Fort Gordon SCRA president.

"Principally, they will be used to fund the Christmas House, Fort Gordon Fisher House, the Warrior Transition Battalion and our scholarship program, which was recently re-name the Jeanne Hutchison Memorial Scholarship in honor of the former 551st Signal Battalion commander," Ellis said. Hutchison was our chapter's president from 2006-2007. She passed away in February after a brief illness.

The 551st Signal Battalion team won first place with a score of 56 in this 18-hole shotgun scramble captain choice which kicked off at 12:30 p.m. Charles Schrader, Jon Schein, Darrell Fairleigh and Brian Shank made up the four member team.

TSM-SATCOM team placed second with a score of 59. The team members were Leith Benedict, Mark Erneyi, Steve Churm and Doug Linton.

Orange Thin Line team, a two-person team, made up of Thomas Helms and John Ollila took third place with a score of 60.

Darrell Fairleigh and JD Ollila were the winners of the long drive award. Mark Ernyei won closest to the pin for the Lake Course and Isacca Faber won it for the Island Course.

The success of the scramble was largely due to our supporters who provided gifts to give away and for the blind auction as well as our volunteers, said Fuentes.

"James Archer, Brittany Gilstad, Justin Girrens, Christopher Ervin and Alice Kang, all Soldiers from Company C, 551st Signal Battalion, worked throughout the scramble to make it a success," Fuentes said. "Sylke Fuentes and Scotty Gouge also were a great help during the day of the fundraiser."

DNE Technologies and the Instructor Recognition Ball Committee each donated $100, according to Fuentes.

Other contributors for the event were local businesses which included: Club Car, Tuscany, and Fort Gordon Chapter of the Association of the United States Army, General Dynamics, Raytheon, Doubletree Hotel, Greater Augusta Sports Council, Bartram Trail Golf Course, Bonaventure of Augusta and EDS of Pompeno Beach, Fla.

Among the many pro golf items auctioned off in the blind auction were an autographed golf ball by Arnold Palmer, valued at more than $300, as well as Luke Donald's signed golf glove from the 2009 Augusta Masters. Contributors of autographed balls and photos of pro golfers were James Steven of Odessa, Texas; Joe Lara of Alexandria, Va., Henry Spade of Fort Campbell, Ky., Sean Parijs of El Paso, Texas; and Kenneth Jenkins of Lacey, Wash.

"I would like to thank the community for supporting our tournament," Ellis said.