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The Orion Lodge #8 held its annual golf tournament fundraiser over the weekend.

 

The proceeds from the tournament go toward the lodge’s scholarship fund and charities they support. Trey Bush, a lodge member and tournament organizer, said the money raised goes to the $1000 scholarship first, then the rest goes to their charity fund. 

 

The Scholarship goes to a graduating senior in Bainbridge. According to lodge member Lane Rich, students must apply for the scholarship. He said that the application is character-based and doesn’t look at students’ academic history. 

 

“We want to know their past, present and future goals,” Rich said. “We’re not concerned about the grades because we look at the individuals.”

 

The Orion Lodge is a Masonic lodge in Bainbridge. The charities that the lodge supports are the Masonic Home of Georgia, the Shriners Hospital for Children, the York Rite Eye Foundation and the Scottish Rite Orient of Georgia. Along with going to charities, the lodge uses the money to assist people in need in Bainbridge. 

 

Bush started the fundraiser tournament three years ago. He started it because their previous form of fundraising stopped being profitable.

 

“We used to park cars for home football games in order to fund our scholarship,” Bush said. “A huge parking lot was built, so the last year we did the parking we only made a couple hundred dollars. … that’s where the golf tournament was born.”

 

Teams of four registered for $400  and played 18 holes in a best-ball scramble format. Businesses sponsored individual holes for $100  a hole. Players were awarded for first and second place, the longest drive, the straightest drive and the closest shot to the pin.