Golf tournaments are a good excuse to take a day off from work, plus an excellent opportunity to network with area businessmen and women. They are also good ways to raise money for worthy causes such as providing scholarships to deserving area students.

    The Young Professionals of Meridian will be holding their 5th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament benefiting the YPM Scholarship Fund. The event will be held Friday, April 20 at Briarwood Country Club and it will be a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Registration for the four-man scramble will begin at 11:30 a.m.

    Kyle Waller, one of the coordinators for this year’s event, said YPM members are excited this year because for the first time they hope to have all the recipients of the four scholarships at the tournament so the presentations of the funds can be made directly to those high school students.

    “It gives us a chance to get those scholarship winners in front of the very people who have contributed to the scholarship fund so that way you can put a face with the name,” said Waller.

    Each scholarship is worth $1,000 said Waller.

    Waller said that it is getting harder and harder for YPM members to choose between the applicants. He said this year marked an increase in applications for the scholarships and on top of that, Waller said virtually every one of the applicants was deserving of the funds.

    “We were impressed with the level of students we have here in Lauderdale County,” Waller said. “We had a lot of discussions about who should receive the scholarships. But we got it down to four, finally.”

    Prizes for the tournament will be given out to the first, second and third place teams as well as for the longest drive and closest to the pin.

    Entry fee is $100 per person and includes gift, green fee, cart, lunch and free beverages.

    For more information you can contact Kyle Waller at (601) 701-8600, Freddie Monsour at (601) 616-6801, or Robby Pickett at (601) 934-3536.