By Tyler Julson

This Saturday marks the 12th annual Corey Goodnature Memorial Scholarship Golf Classic. The fundraiser will be at Green Lea Golf Course in Albert Lea, with registration starting at 11 a.m. and the opening ceremonies beginning at 12:30 p.m.

This outing isn’t just for the golfers, however; also starting at 11 a.m. will be a silent auction with around 200 items available for bidding.

There will be a meal for the golfers and anyone interestested in coming out to the golf course. The cost for the meal is $10 and includes a grilled pork chop with potato salad, beans and buns.

After the meal, starting at around 6:30 p.m., a live auction will be held for some of the big ticket items of this year’s fundraiser. Some of the items include a grill table, bean bag boards and signed guitars from both Toby Keith and Chris Stapleton.

Perhaps one of the biggest items being auctioned off this year is a VIP NASCAR experience at the Hollywood Casino 400 in Kansas City. The package includes four pit/garage passes for qualifying and practice sessions, tickets to the race itself and a parking pass.

After the live auction, there will be karaoke in a tent set up on the course.

All proceeds from Saturday’s fundraiser will go toward the scholarship fund set up in Goodnature’s name.

The scholarship is given out yearly to area youth planning to attend college. So far, the scholarship has awarded about $185,000 to graduating seniors from the area.

The fundraiser and scholarship were set up as a way to honor Goodnature, as well as other soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice fighting in the military.

Goodnature was killed while performing a rescue mission in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005.

Many of the auction items are engraved or memorialized with the initials NSDQ. The initials are an acronym for the saying “Night Stalkers Don’t Quit,” a motto that Corey lived his life by.

According to his father, Don Goodnature, this tournament and fundraiser are a great way to keep the memory of his son alive.

“As a parent that was one of the biggest things I thought about,” Don Goodnature said. “That after he was killed, he would be forgotten. With everyone coming together to remember, it’s just a great time — a good way to remember and honor Corey, as well as other members of the military that we’ve lost.”