AUBURN - Four years ago a tragic car accident cut short the life of Port Byron high school senior Sean Gummerson.

Sean was a well-known and well-liked student. He was also known for his ability to put a smile on the faces of those he encountered.

In his honor, one of Gummerson's former teachers, Angie Hargreaves, decided that she wanted to do something special to remember him.

This led her to create the Sean Gummerson Memorial Golf Tournament.

“I love golf,” Hargreaves said. “And I talked to Sean's parents, Linda and Craig, and we thought that this would be a really nice way to keep his memory alive.”

From its inception, the tournament, held at Dutch Hollow Country Club each year, has been well received by Gummerson's friends and family.

“Sean really thought the world of Angie,” Sean's mother Linda said. “And now we know why. She has done such an amazing job getting this all together and we think the world of her for all the hard work she has put into getting this all together. We really couldn't do it without her.”

The tournament also garnered a great deal of support in the golf community right away.

“The first year we did really well,” Hargreaves said. “I think it was right in the front of everyone's mind and everyone was really willing to help out. And that has been great to see. I don't want Sean's memory to ever be forgotten.”

Annually, the tournament draws 34 four-person teams.

“We still get a really good turnout,” Hargreaves said. “We keep it inexpensive - it is 70 dollars and you get to eat and drink on the course. (You get) a T-shirt and towel and lots of things like that. Everyone just comes out and has a good time.”

To keep things running smoothly there are nearly as many volunteers behind the scenes as there are golfers on the course.

“We have a great group of volunteers,” Hargreaves said. “We have people cooking food and getting things ready. We really couldn't do this like we do without all the great support we get from all the volunteers.”

Among them are Gummerson's parents who spend the day out manning the grills.

“My husband does a lot of cooking,” Linda said. “And we drive around the course and help the volunteers however we can. We really like to be involved in things. We were always the parents that volunteered to help out with things at school, so it is nice to be able to help out with this a little bit.”

Annually the tournament raises between $3,500 to $5,000.

These funds go to help support organizations like Junior Achievement in Syracuse.

For the first few years the money also helped to support two $500 scholarships, but last year it was decided to put these funds towards making it possible for Port Byron students to take college credit courses for free.

The funds go to help students have access to subjects like English 101 and Chemistry.

“About 50 students take these classes,” Hargreaves said. “That might not seem like a lot, but when you consider we only have about 340 students that is a pretty good number of kids that we are able to help out with this.”

And support for the tournament comes from all directions.

“We have teams of teachers, friends and family,” Hargreaves said. “But we also get a lot of random people, people that hear about it and think it sounds like a good time and come out and get involved.”

For Gummerson's family, the support and the chance to help other people is something they believe Sean would approve of and they are overwhelmed by how successful this tournament has become.

“Sean loved school, he loved to have fun,” Linda said. “He was happy to be able to give to others and we are happy to be able to do the same. It is really amazing for us to see the way people have supported this and how it has been able to help other people. Sean would be very happy with what we are doing.”