By Shawn O’Brate, Staff Writer
RIVERTON – This past Saturday the Riverton Golf Course (RGC) was filled to the brim with golfers young and old to help remember and honor one of Fremont County’s most avid golfers in the best way they know how.
Michael “Mike” Brown spent much of his life in Riverton and Dubois, even earning All-Region and All-State honors in basketball at Riverton High School along with multiple letters in football and track as well. But later on in his life he could be found at RGC on a daily basis, even if the weather was pouring on him or the snow was a few hours away.
So after the world lost Brown, the Riverton golfers and the former RGC Golf Pro put together the Mike Brown Memorial Tournament, and over the weekend that tournament was held once again in honor Riverton’s most dedicated golfer.
“He was a long-time, avid golfer and this was his favorite place to golf,” current RGC Golf Pro Mike Newman said of Brown.
Over 60 people paid to attend the tournament and play in one of 16 groups of four during the gorgeous day that was bestowed upon the fairways on Saturday, all paying homage to Brown’s legacy.
“I didn’t know Mike [Brown] personally but from the turnout we had it was obvious that [Brown] was a well-liked member of the community,” Newman said during the middle of the tournament. “Everyone here that knew him said this is what he would do if he could on a Saturday … and Saturday’s are tough, especially shutting down the course to members. But it’s worth it, and we’re going to continue doing it.”
Newman, who recently moved to Riverton from Casper after helping Kelly Walsh High School win multiple state championships, became the Golf Pro at RGC earlier this summer and is already seeing how the local golf community comes together to honor one of their own. Now that Newman has an even better understanding of what Brown meant to the towns of Riverton and Dubois, the tournament holds new meaning.
“This golf course is one of the biggest reasons that brought me out here, but the golfers make life easier,” Newman said.
Up next, another huge golf tournament takes place at RGC in the form of the Dreams in Motion Tournament which is put together by former Riverton citizen Bruce Tippets. For more information on that tournament, which takes place August 5, be sure to check out future editions of Fremont County Sports in every Ranger or Lander Journal newspaper.