"Lets Fly Away"

It's time to get ready for the 17th Annual Marcus Lauva Memorial Golf Tournament. This year's tournament is set for Saturday, June 12, at the Beaver Creek Meadows Golf Course. The tournament is a scholarship fund raiser for the Lauva Family Memorial Scholarship Fund. A scholarship is given each year through the Wellsville High School Alumni Scholarship Committee. Each year a Wellsville High School senior is awarded a $1,500 scholarship in memory of the departed members of the Lauva family. Yesterday at the WHS Class Day was the 17th scholarship given by the Lauva Memorial Fund.

We never had the honor of personally knowing Marcus. From talking to family members, people who grew up with him and other friends, it is evident we missed being acquainted with a friend you'd never dislike or never forget. Marcus was the son of the late Dr. Janis & Mrs. Hilya Lauva. Dr. Lauva was our family doctor when he was practicing in Wellsville. The Lauvas were Latvia natives that escaped from behind the Eastern European Iron Curtain and eventually relocated in Wellsville in the 1950s.

Marcus was a gifted student and athlete. After graduating in 1974 from Wellsville High School he went to Mount Union on an academic scholarship. While at Mount Union he played three sports - football, basketball and baseball. He graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in biology. Affectionately nicknamed Fly by brother John, Marcus' true love was the game of golf. Beaver Creek was his favorite golf course and he will always be part of that beautiful 18 hole course. Marcus started golfing in his early teens and was one of the sports most avid fan.

Marcus was taken from among the living in a tragic auto accident in October 1993, at the young age of 37. His many friends, acquaintances and family felt a scholarship in his honor would be a very appropriate memorial to Marcus. It started out as the Marcus Lauva Scholarship Fund and was changed in the year 2000 to the Lauva Family Memorial, after the passing of both Dr. & Mrs. Lauva. The first tournament was played in June of 1994.

The deadline for early registration for this year's tournament is June 5. It's $200 per foursome and $50 per individual. It's a modified shot gun scramble. In addition to 18 holes of great golf each entrant will be treated to a buffet luncheon and awards reception following the golf round. The luncheon is a BYOB affair for those desiring an adult beverage. Everybody will get a $50 gift card for store4golfers.com plus automatic entry in four hole-in-one events. The grand prize is a Hawaiian trip worth $5,000 for the holes-in-one.

Checks should be made out to The Lauva Family Memorial Scholarship Fund and mailed to Doug Rose, 1720 Clark Ave., Wellsville, OH 43968. For more information contact either Doug, Kevin Beresford or Cris McNicol.

Some of Fly's ashes were scattered on part of the Beaver Creek Meadows Golf Course. Although not there in body he'll be there, wishing everyone good luck, in spirit. Please join Fly and his many friends to support this very worthy cause. Doug Rose told us it's the theme of the annual tournament - "It's Time to Fly".

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