The Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce held its annual golf tournament Wednesday at the Valley Grande Golf Course to raise funds to support local businesses.

This year’s tournament, which was a three-person scramble, featured 26 teams and gave those participating a chance to network with local businesses, while also giving everyone a good reason to spend the day on the golf course.

“This is the one and only fundraiser we have right now and this is our 17th year to do this,” Sheryl Smedley, executive director of the Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce, said. “We are glad that it is still a vibrant event and in my five years of being the chamber director, I believe this year is going to be our most successful [tournament].”

Smedley was thankful for everyone who took time out of their busy work schedules to play a round of golf and benefit the chamber.

“They have their own work schedules and they have got to make their timelines work in order to participate, so I just appreciate them taking that initiative to be out here today,” Smedley said of those who participated.

Smedley said a new thing in this year’s tournament was that businesses had a chance to sponsor one of the par-3 holes and set up a tent and hand out goodies as a way of networking with players.

The tournament also allowed golfers several ways to improve their scores while also benefiting the chamber. Golfers could pay $5 to participate in the inside the circle challenge, the Pepsi Cup Drive and the advantage shot. Each player could also choose whether or not to participate in the power drive, which gave teams a chance to hit from the shorter, red tees.

Out of those options, the biggest hit seemed to be the Pepsi Cup, which allowed golfers to hit using a Pepsi Cup and then not have the stroke count against their score.

Scores were broken into three-flights. The first flight winner was Pine Belt Wireless, followed by Regions Bank and Smitherman Construction. In the second flight, CRL Lovelady Construction won, followed by second place Air Pro and third place First Cahawba Bank. The third flight was won by Selm Mayor George Evans’ team, followed by Steve Spivey’s team and Bama Budweiser.

All of the first flight winners won a Tad Moore wedge and a $75 gift card to Mark’s Mart. Second place won a Tad Moore putter and a $50 gift card to the Central Alabama Farmer’s Co-Op and third place won a $25 gift card to Rountree Outdoors.

Prizes were also awarded to the team that was closest to the pin on holes No. 6, No. 7, No. 11 and on hole No. 15 and on No. 3, which was used for the longest drive competition.