Golfer Chad McCoy saw the good in everyone through his eyes, and now his parents, Jeana and Dennis McCoy, along with the foundation, are able to keep his vision alive and flowing with their annual golf scholarship.

The Chad McCoy Memorial Foundation presented its fourth golf scholarship on Thursday at Ozark Ridge Golf Course to recent Poplar Bluff High School graduate Lawson Barks. Barks will get the opportunity to showcase his skills at the next level after signing to play golf at the University of Central Missouri.

Barks is quite aware of the impact Chad McCoy has on the young golfers at Ozark Ridge, so receiving the scholarship was a great honor.

“It’s a great thing to receive,” Barks said. “I couldn't ask for a better way to get a scholarship, and it means a lot. Golfers don't get the recognition, but I feel like they should. This sport doesn’t get recognized like football or baseball, so for something outside of high school people to care about golf the way they do means a lot.”

Barks, a senior golfer, made All-Conference honors while placing third at the tournament this year. He also won medalist honors with a 69 (-3) score to par at the Notre Dame Invitational at Dalhousie Country Club. According to his coaching staff, Barks was selected as team captain and has been very consistent all year with his scoring, with a season-low round of 66 (-5) to par.

Barks also placed fourth at this year’s state golf tournament and helped the Mules capture a Class 4 state title. Though Barks was the only senior on the team, Jeana said after the season he had for the Mules, he was very well deserving of receiving the scholarship.

“We couldn't have a better person to give this to than Barks,” Jeana said. “We followed the team all season and watched how he progressed through the year. I think he’s going to do some good with it playing at the college level.”

The foundation was started by Chad’s family shortly after his passing, and it has continued to help young golfers playing at the college level. Chad’s former Mules teammates and friends have helped McCoys plan future events and grow the memorial fund.

“I think we’ve been able to keep this going due to Chad's friendships when he was growing up around here,” Jeana said. “He was associated with so many people, and we’ve just taken the ball and rolled with it. All we have to do is say Chad’s name, and the community comes together.”

Dennis said Chad loved golf, and it’s a sport that can teach young athletes more than people like to give credit.

“Golf teaches a lot of lessons that these young kids can carry through life,” he said. “It teaches young people so much etiquette and manners and, most of all, respect. Buddy and Bobby Godwin are excellent mentors to all these kids, and being at Ozark Ridge was Chad’s best place to be.”

Jeana agreed that golfers don’t get many scholarship opportunities and knew that Chad would be proud that they started the foundation to help young golfers.

“It's something that we know Chad would be very proud of,” she said. “Chad loved mentoring golf and young golfers. This is something that I know he's smiling down on us saying, good job guys.”