By Bryan Hearn ’09

Jim Eikner ’57 drains a five-foot putt, stretches and surveys the clear blue sky. “It’s a glorious day,” he says to George “Smoky” Russell ’56, who nods in agreement. Russell and Eikner, president of the Alumni Association, are teammates in the 3rd Annual Rhodes Alumni Golf Tournament.

The golfers soon spot two Rhodes ambassadors, Jennifer Stanley ’08 and Aubrey Diaz ’08, driving a cart loaded with snacks and cold beverages. The day has just become more glorious.

“Just what we’ve been looking for,” Eikner says excitedly.

Stanley, as it turns out, had been looking for Eikner. “I remember you,” she says, and gives him a hug. In her third year as the refreshment cart driver, Stanley recalls meeting Eikner at last year’s tournament. Eikner and Russell have been teammates for each of the tournament’s three years—and have taken home a prize every year.

The golfers turn their attention back to the snacks. Eikner chooses sunflower seeds over peanuts and granola bars. “Now that I’ve got these seeds we’ll set a course record,” he says.

Stanley asks them if they will win another prize this year. Russell looks at his teammate incredulously and says, “We’ll be in the lead until they start counting score.” 

For those counting score, the Golf tournament has become a staple of Homecoming weekend in its short history. More than ten alumni teams and three student teams played, making this year’s tournament the biggest yet.

Stanley sees the event as an opportunity for students to get to know personable alumni like Eikner and Russell. “It’s fun to hear about how Rhodes was different in the past,” Stanley says. “And how it’s stayed the same.”

The alumni see the tournament the same way. “It’s great to get to know other Rhodes students from different generations,” says Robert Edgecombe ’04. On the scoreboard, however, the current Lynx distanced themselves from the alumni. The Kappa Sigma Fraternity team beat the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity team by one stroke, finishing 15 under par.  Both teams consisted of four current golfers—all with no handicaps.  

The students didn’t take home all of the honors, though. Rob Downey ’96, a member of the 1996 SCAC All-Conference Golf Team, won the “Longest Drive” competition. 

And even Eikner and Russell didn’t go home empty-handed. They won four free rounds of golf for coming in last place. “I knew we’d win something,” Eikner says. Those sunflower seeds must have been the lucky charm.