The inaugural Jordan Park Projects Nostalgic Association, Inc. Scholarship Golf Tournament got underway on Aug. 21. With 10 participating churches, Team Praise Temple Deliverance Center took home the trophy to Polk County. Photos courtesy of Pop Lancaster
BY S. ROSE SMITH-HAYES, Contributor
ST. PETERSBURG — In memory of Minson Rubin, co-founder of the Jordan Park Projects Nostalgic Association, Inc. (JPPNA), on Saturday, Aug. 21, JPPNA held its inaugural Scholarship Golf Tournament at the beautiful Twin Brooks Golf Course in St. Petersburg.
Team Mt. Zion Progressive Baptist Church
The day saw a 9 Hole, Par 3, four-person scramble. There were 40 golfers, and everyone enjoyed the fellowship and praised God for his many blessings.
Participants represented 10 churches:
- Hope Alive Outreach: Dr. Basha Jordan, Bill Darling, Leroy Williams, and Melvin Smith
- Trinity Presbyterian: Bobby Thompson, Archie Thompson, Roger Moore, and Jimmy Curry
- Bethel AME: Willie Felton, Jr., Dr. George Banks, and youths Adrian Jester and Malachi McCloud
- Greater Mt. Zion AME: Cornelius Bell, Don Franklin, Ralph Gilbert, and Arthur Wright
- Zion Progressive Baptist: Louis Murphy, Sr., Daniel Allen, Alan Coleman, and Robert Ellis
- Augustine Episcopal: Alvin Burns, female players Basti Amaro and Ann Killen, and Leroy Lewis
- Mark Baptist: Eddie Pringle, Ozell Butler, and Troy Reeves
- Moores Chapel AME: Freeman Williams, Raymond Campbell, George Shaw from Tampa, and female player Vernell Williams from Madison
- Family Worship Center of Polk County: Bishop Willie Watson, Carver Young, Benny Watson, and Earl Moore
- Praise Temple Deliverance Center of Polk County: Crowd favorite 101-year-old Herbert Dixon, Jerry Lewis, Earl Wilson, and Nolan Hinson.
Five churches tied for first place, including St. Mark, Trinity Presbyterian, Moores Chapel, Praise Temple Deliverance, and Mt. Zion Progressive. However, the only way to have a true winner was to have a “sudden death putt off.”
Team Bethel AME
As the teams positioned themselves on the green, a lot of nail-biting ensued. The best putters from each team gave it their all, but Praise Temple Deliverance Center took first place, and the JPPNA revolving trophy will go to Polk County until next August.
To keep the trophy, a church must win three consecutive tournaments. All golfers were excited as they look forward to next year.
Jeannette Rubin, the widow of Minson Rubin, was present, and Clarence Green, former owner of Green’s Bakery, was posthumously recognized as a pioneering golf player in the Black community. His wife, Bernice Green, accepted a thank you certificate in his honor.
Also, we give a special thanks to Terry at St. Pete Country Club for the use of several golf carts from his club that made the event possible.
The golfers enjoyed a wonderful soul food lunch provided by Heavy’s Family Catering. Lunch was served at the Bethel Metropolitan Church’s fellowship hall. We thank Pastor Ricky Houston for providing the space.
A special thanks go out to our hosts, Association President Rufus M. Lewis, an inductee into two Golfers Halls of Fame, Leroy Lewis, Rubin Mayes, directors, and our JPPNA, Inc. members for their arduous work, support, and dedication to the event. In addition, we had support from many individuals and businesses in our local community and individuals in Pasco and Polk Counties. Thank you very much!
