The 9th annual Friends of Mike Clement Golf Tournament was held at Eagle Pointe Golf Course last Saturday. It was a Chamber of Commerce Day that featured an Annular Eclipse for all the golfers to enjoy.
The competition on the course was intense. Two teams shot blazing 59s on the day with one team claiming the top spot by virtue of a scorecard playoff based on hole handicaps.
The first-place team scoring the 59 was composed of Todd Marti, Eric Mauer, Steven Bruce, and Brent Mauer. Along with all previous winners, their names will be inscribed on the organization’s Clement Cup.
The first place team pictured with The Clement Cup. Left to Right - Eric Mauer, Steven Bruce, Todd Marti, Brent Mauer
The second-place team of Lori Marti, Michael Perras, Richard Godwin, and Russell Reid also carded the total team score of 59.
The third-place team shot 64 and included Robert Tucker, Chris Tomme, Mario Coronado, and Gary Woods.
Allen Watson and Michael Perras were the long drive champs, while Lori Marti and Allen Watson were the closest to the pin winners.
Tournament director Mark Casey said, “This tournament is a labor of love for us because it allows us to honor the memory of our friend Mike Clement by raising funds for scholarships to deserving students in the district that Mike served so well. With the help of these golfers and our generous sponsors, we have been able to award over $67,000 in scholarships since we began our non-profit. I know Mike is proud. This year’s tournament cleared around $8,100, and I know we still have some donors that will want to pitch in to help us. It was also a blessing to have one of our recent scholarship recipients, Joshua Medina, and his mother, Alison Medina, come out to volunteer at our event! It reminded us of why we do this.”
Mike Clement was a Baytown native who graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1980. Sometime during his time at Sam Houston State, Mike was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
Despite taking powerful drugs and feeling the effects of the disease, Clement maintained his positive outlook and battled. Clement graduated from college with an accounting degree and worked as youth minister for Central Baptist Church in Baytown.
In his 1987 book Rise to the Challenge, Clement describes hitting rock bottom physically and emotionally. From that pit he prayed and determined not to wallow in self-pity. He threw his energy into his ministry and eventually was elected to the Goose Creek CISD school board.
In 1998, Clement died in an accident related to his disease.
“Friends of Mike Clement” hosts the golf event each October and honors Mike’s memory by awarding scholarships to Goose Creek CISD students each May.
Make plans to attend and support next year’s tournament, their 10th annual charity event.
The Friends of Mike Clement organization will award another $11,000 in scholarships to deserving GCCISD senior students this spring.
To make a donation or for more information about the organization, visit www.friendsofmikeclement.org.
