Golfers can enjoy the game and raise funds to help post-secondary students at the same time at the fifth annual Swing for Scholarships golf classic, to be held on Saturday, Aug. 23 at the Weyburn Golf Course.

The tournament includes 18 holes of Texas Scramble golf, a steak supper, chances at hole-in-one and other prizes. Entries are limited to 36 teams. Last year, 84 golfers participated.

The tournament is sponsored by the Southeast Education Foundation and the Southeast Regional College. This year's tournament will provide four awards of $750 each for college students.

"This friend-raising and fund-raising event supports a good cause in the community," said Sherry Leach, executive director of the education foundation.

"Each year more golfers and community sponsors are coming forward to support this important cause, raising money for student scholarships and bursaries at the college."

With the increased cost of tuition and books, it's important to break down the financial barriers to locally-delivered education and training, said Leach.

"The funding encourages students of all ages to pursue their university or vocational-technical training in rural Saskatchewan. This, in turn, helps to strengthen the community and the local economy."

The College's Awards and Scholarship Fund totals about $30,000 annually, with $3,000 raised at the golf tournament last year. The Saskatchewan government matches private fund-raising efforts to a maximum of $3,100 for each college, through its Centennial Merit Scholarship Program.