DAYTON–Another step toward a labor-saving irrigation system at the Touchet Valley Golf Course was taken when $18,000 was raised during the Third Annual Gene Crothers Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit the T.V. Golf Course Irrigation System on June 26. The event was presented by Inland Cellular.

There were 48 golfers in 24 teams plus sponsorship money that totaled $18,000, including about $3,000 in prizes donated for the cause: installing an underground irrigation system on the nine-hole course.

"We're very happy with it," commented Sean Thurston, who is ramrodding fundraising efforts and project planning.

"It looks like we're good to go with building the reservoir this fall," Thurston said. There are some permitting tasks to finalize, but the project should be able to get started, he added.

The third phase, trenching and installing the underground water lines and sprinklers could also get under way on certain portions of the course that are club-owned: two, half of three, and holes four and five.

"The goal is to have sprinklers working by spring, 2022," Thurston said. This is possible thanks to a $44,000 grant from the Columbia Conservation District along with the funds raised over the past few years.

Portions of the course that are county owned will require the work going out for competitive bid, under prevailing wage rules.