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Disc golf tournament raises funds for accident victim
Chris Hesson of Barboursville throws a disc off the tees during the Disc Golf Charity Tournament "Throw for Dough for Billy Joe" at Rotary Park on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008.
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HUNTINGTON -- Ben Shew drove all the way from Fairmont, W.Va., to play disc golf in Huntington on Sunday morning.
Shew, 31, was one of about 30 disc golfers that came from all over the Tri-State and as far away as Bowling Green, Ohio, to participate in a disc golf charity tournament called "Throw for Dough for Billy Joe" at Rotary Park.
Organized by Huntington Disc Golf Club member Scott Straight, the proceeds from the tournament go to help medical expenses for B.J. Berkhouse.
One of Straight's friends since junior high, Berkhouse was walking on a sidewalk in Charleston on June 7 when a woman drove over the curb and hit him with her car.
Berkhouse, who was in critical condition following the car accident, still cannot walk without assistance, and he has no medical insurance.
"I went to school with B.J., too, and Scott's a good friend of mine, so this is really the least I could do," Shew said. "B.J.'s going to need a lot of help."
Straight said folks in their hometown of Elkview, W.Va., have already raised more than $10,000 through a horseshoe/corn hole tournament. There's also been a poker run, and a golf tournament has been organized.
"He's doing better, but he has got a long road of rehab," said Straight, who talked to B.J. on Saturday. "He's tough. ... He's now able to walk with assistance. His whole left side was really mangled."
Jason Webb, who is the current president for the Disc Golf Club, said it was a great day to come out and throw Rotary's two 18-hole courses and help someone out in the process.
Disc golfers threw a singles round in the morning on the old 18-hole course at Rotary, stopped for lunch and then threw a seeded doubles tournament on the new 18-hole Indian Rock course at Rotary.
"We love to support anything that is such a good cause, and we love to play disc golf," Webb said. "Everybody has come out today to help."
Entry fee for the tournament was $10, but Straight said many folks gave well beyond the entry fee to help Berkhouse.
"A lot of people gave extra, and a lot of people gave some great prizes so everybody will go out of here with something hopefully," Straight said.
"Yeah, I hope to leave here with my dignity," said a laughing John Parlier, who had just thrown into the rough.
Straight smiled, saying everybody was moving a little slow following some hearty football game festivities Saturday with Marshall's home opener.
"It may not have been a good idea to have this on the morning following the first football game," Straight said, as his foursome slowly made their way through the woods. "Everybody's not in football shape yet."
To make a donation to help with B.J. Berkhouse's medical expenses, call Scott Straight at 304-412-3651.
You can also donate online at www.bjberkhouse.com.
