The second annual “Loving It Now” track golf tournament was held recently at the Sleepy Hole Golf Course.

Dennis Sumblin, organizer of the tournament, stated that its primary purpose is to bring together a group of guys from the community who did not grow up playing golf, but who now enjoy the game immensely.

The late Charles Pearce, a former physical education teacher, “told us that we wouldn’t be able to chase that basketball or football all of our lives and that we needed to learn a less-strenuous lifetime sport.”

The secondary purpose of the tournament was to raise money for the Franklin High School track program, of which Sumblin is the head coach.

Participants again traveled from Ohio, Maryland, Georgia, Manassas, Chesapeake, Suffolk and Surry, as well as Franklin, to compete.

Alumni and friends included Robin Ricks, Robert Britt, Justin Oliver, Willie “Jay”Bell, Larry Rose, Alvin Lee, Tommy “Duck” Riddick, Ricky Brown, Frederick “Toe-Jo” Cross, Corinth Cross, Clarence “Bone” Ruffin, Mario Newby, James Peebles, Tony Lee, Vern Watson, Courtney McBath, Larry Porter and Levi Kinchlow.

The team of Watson, McBath, Porter and Kinchlow won the tournament. High schoolers Brandon Blythe, Brendan Simms, Bryce Simms and Scott Felts were the runners-up. Brendan Simms hit the longest drive and closest to the pin. Levi Kinchlow tied for closest to the pin.

“The tournament again was a great success, and the guys continue to look forward to next year’s event,” Sumblin said.

“We also had an outstanding season in track this year. All but one of our team members qualified to compete in the Region 1A East Outdoor Track Championships. Seven of those athletes (Jayla Cross, Josie Rankin, Jawun Walton, DeMarque White, Quayshaun Jefferson, JaVonte’ Baker and Dariun Everett) qualified to compete in the VHSL Group 1A State Outdoor Track Championships.”

“All of these athletes finished in the top eight in the state in their events,” he added. “Walton and Jefferson were state runners-up in the 100- and 400-meter dashes, respectively, and our boys’ 4×100 relay team of Walton, White, Jefferson, Baker and Everett, the alternate, are the state champions.”

The four boys who competed in the state tournament finished eighth overall out of 35 Group A teams.