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Tournament brings fun, funds for good cause
Hapfanthree
The team of Bubba Dasher, Matt Desbiens, Ben Floyd and Chuck Smith finished third. - photo by Photo by Mike Riddle

Sixty-four golfers competed in the third annual HAPfan Golf Tournament on Saturday at Cherokee Rose Golf Course.
Taking home first place in the tournament with a score of 19 under par was the team of Bucky Keel, Jimmy Keel, Steve Wiggins and Jeff Stewart.
The runner-up was the team of Van Power, Aaron Power, Matt Sellars and Terry Sellars. The third-place team consisted of Bubba Dasher, Matt Desbiens, Ben Floyd and Chuck Smith.
Winning the closest-to-the-pin award at hole No. 3 was Aaron Power, while Andy Anderson won the award at hole No. 13. The longest-drive award went to Ben Floyd, a former HAPfan scholarship winner.
The HAPfan Golf Tournament is an annual event held in honor of the late Mabel Creel, who was an avid area golfer. Jerry DeLoach, who worked with Creel at CenturyLink Incorporated, also competed in the tournament.
“I worked with Mabel for over 20 years,” DeLoach said. “I get to work early, but even before I got there, she was always there getting things in order so that she could take care of her customers. She always put the customer first. ... She was a sweet lady, and I’m happy to be a part of this tournament in remembrance of her.”
Jeffery Arnold, one of the eagle sponsors for the event, also had high praise for Creel and her daughter.
“This tournament is a great legacy to Mabel,” Arnold said. “She was a great human being and an inspiration to all. When she had setbacks in her life, she always came up smiling. Now her daughter is a clone of what she was.”
Josh Stafford, who is Creel’s son-in-law, said last year HAPfan Foundation provided two $500 scholarships, and this year the plan is to give away five.
Along with Floyd, Ryan Norris also returned to play in the tournament after winning a scholarship from HAPfan, and Elise Stafford was pleased to see them back on the greens.
“These two young men received the scholarships last year, and now they are back contributing to the tournament and as ambassadors for the HAPfan Foundation,” Stafford said.
Sponsors for the tournament included Arnold, Stafford & Randolph law firm, CenturyLink, Earl “Buddy” Carter, Hinesville Ford, Liberty Chrysler, Tammy Balance, Coastal Manor Activity Department, Liberty Regional Medical Center, Rosby Frasier, Verdell Jones, Scott Kroell, Josh and Elise Stafford, the Coastal Courier, VIP Office and Supplies and Vann Wheeler.

See more photos from the HAPfan tournament at www.coastalcourier.com.

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