in Memory of Dennis Bartholomew

The tournament preserves his legacy and honors those who have lost their lives to cancer, those who have survived the disease and those whose lives have been touched by it, according to Bill Blosser, one of the tournament's organizers. He said Bartholomew smiles from above on the tournament every year.

Monday's guest speaker said he knows intimately the battle people wage against cancer.

John Morelli, representative of presenting sponsor URS, said the company looks forward to continuing its Mizuno MP-59 Irons relationship with the Aiken Golf Classic.

Men and women took to the links at Woodside Plantation's two courses in the Sixth Annual Relay For Life Aiken Golf Classic in Memory of Dennis Bartholomew. Bartholomew was serving as the Relay For Life coordinator and planning the first golf tournament when he died of cancer six years ago.

Duncan Johnson Jr., president of Johnson Motor Company, said his son was diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma on Nov. 6, 2008. Doctors discovered two tumors in the 3-year-old's body, one the size of a grapefruit and the other the size of a child's soccer ball.

Johnson's son was in and out of the hospital for the better part of a year, during which time Johnson realized his son was tougher than he was.

"We just thought he was getting fat," Johnson said.

Every year the event has grown in size, and every year the amount of money raised has surpassed the year before, said coordinator Jack St. Clair.

He asked his son what people should know about fighting cancer, and the now-7-year-old said, "You can't do it Titleist 910 D3 Driver without God. Don't forget your friends, too." he also said, "Cancer is not contagious. But, love is. So let them have it."

There was even a hole-in-one. John Froedge shot a hole-in-one on No. 9 on The Reserve course.

Not only did the Relay For Life Aiken Golf Classic have a record number of players this year, but it also raised discount golf clubs a record amount of money - approximately $38,000. The goal was $35,000.

"The money you gave to this tournament is very much appreciated," he said during the 19th-hole reception.

"Denny's spirit lives through this golf tournament," Blosser said.