LOUISIANA La. - The Herbert Heymann Memorial Tournament celebrated its 20th renewal Monday afternoon at Oakbourne, and it also celebrated a changing of the guard.

For two decades, the Heymann Tournament has been the major fund-raiser for the University of Louisiana golf program and has raised nearly a half-million dollars in those efforts. And it was a small group of former Ragin’ Cajun golfers – Bob Rodgers, Buddy Short and Tommy Thomas, along with Cajun coach Bob Bass – that made the tournament a runaway success.

This year, that group passed the torch to a new tournament committee headed by another former Cajun player, Mike Spielmann, and including several other ex-players and team supporters.

“We had been concerned that we didn’t have the next tier coming along,” said Short. “We didn’t have a lot of the younger guys involved. But we don’t have that problem now. Mike and his group have got this thing going. This is just the start.”

“Buddy, Bob and Tommy have done a tremendous job for a long time,” said Bass. “This tournament wouldn’t be where it is today without them. They’ve been great supporters for a long time.”

So was the tournament’s namesake. Heymann was host of the tournament from its inception to his death four years ago, and the event continues in his honor.

“Herbert loved Cajun golf,” Spielmann said, “and his family has continued to support and love this program. Having his name on this event makes it special for a lot of people.”

Thomas, Rodgers and Short are still involved, but they can also sit back and watch with pride as the tournament hits the new heights that it experienced Monday.

The 94-player field was the largest in tournament history, and Spielmann said that the event will likely add over $30,000 to the Cajun team coffers by the time all proceeds are accounted for.

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com