Let’s go golfing

After 16 years hosting the Uri Sellers Memorial Slow Pitch Softball Tournament, the event is transitioning to a golf outing with the same goals and ambitions. Planned for June 12 at Gateway Recreation, the four-person best shot will be divided into two sessions, 9 a.m. morning and 1 p.m. afternoon, with a lunch and silent auction, and continue the tradition of raising funds for great causes and in memory of Uri.

“We had always hoped to make it to 20 years with the slow pitch softball tournament, and then reevaluate and possibly transition to golf. We were very close too, as we made it to 16 years straight with our tournament in 2019,” organizer and Uri’s brother Caleb Sellers said.

As COVID changed the word and the ballfields that traditionally held the tournament transitioned into the new health clinic in Prairie City, the process was accelerated to start up the golf outing.

“The good news is that we have a lot of great people locally that help out every year and some of those same folks have helped with the Cystic Fibrosis golf tournament and other charitable golf outings locally, so they were quick to step up and volunteer to help,” Sellers said.

The softball tournament and now the golf outing work as a fundraiser for the Uri Sellers Memorial Foundation. Started in 1997, Sellers said the idea behind the foundation is to be able to help high school students fulfill their dreams of attending college.

“The Foundation was established to help keep Uri’s memory alive, not only because his life was cut way too short, but also because he was an active member of his community who would always lend a helping hand,” Sellers said. “By having these events, we are not only able to help PCM students through the scholarship program, but also identify other areas within the local communities that we may be able to help out. It’s nice to be able to give back and also have an event that so many people within the community look forward to each year.”

Even before the softball tournament started, the foundation was awarding scholarships, starting at one per class for $500 and only growing from there.

“Back then we didn’t have the fundraisers like we do today, so we relied on a raffle that usually took place at Monroe Old Settlers. If I remember correctly some of the first few years we raffled a mountain bike, a Terry Redlin print, a shotgun and other items, which ultimately helped fund that year’s scholarship,” Sellers said. “Eventually we started the softball tournament in 2004, and from then on we were able to raise a bit more money so we began to give back to the local communities and increase the scholarship amount and number of scholarship winners.”

Along with the 39 scholarships awarded to PCM seniors through 2020, other organizations that have benefited from the foundation include Monroe Rec Park, Prairie City Sports Complex, PCM Youth Football, PCM Youth Soccer, Boy’s State, Girl’s State, PCM High School weight room, PCM Music Program, PCM Athletic Boosters, Monroe Elementary PTA, Prairie City Elementary PTO, Prairie City and Monroe libraries, among others.

The softball tournament became a well-known part of the foundation, with t-shirts from the annual event seen in the community regularly. With 16 years worth of games, teams and memories, Sellers said it was hard to narrow down his favorites but he did have a few experiences stand out from the time on the fields.

“Early on there weren’t as many teams and it seemed like it was the same ones that played in the PC slow pitch league that would enter, but it was still always a blast!” Sellers said. “Inevitably it seemed like nearly every other year we would get one of the biggest rains of the summer the Saturday of the memorial tournament, but it also never failed that all the local community members would rally together with sand, quick-dry, 4-wheelers, tractors, tarps and whatever we needed to make sure the tournament was played.”

For quite a few years, the tournament also coincided with Prairie City’s Prairie Days celebration adding to the event.

“We were able to have a front-row seat for the Prairie Days fireworks show, which usually happened around the time we were finishing up the final game and was an awesome way to end the evening,” Sellers said. “I personally really enjoyed presenting the scholarships to that year’s Uri Sellers Memorial Scholarship recipients and hearing about their college plans, goals and aspirations. Some of my other favorite memories were sitting under the lights towards the end of the evening, watching the games with family, friends and local community members.”

New memories will be made as the tournament transitions from softball to golf. Sellers is excited for the next phase for the foundation and what it will bring for the PCM community.”We hope the memorial foundation can continue to bring everyone together for a great cause and give back locally because ultimately it is the local volunteers and businesses that provide the support to allow the foundation to continue to give back,” Sellers said. “And for that, we are very grateful.”

For more information about the Uri Sellers Memorial Golf Outing, contact Gateway Recreation at 641-259-3246. The cost is $40 per person.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com