The memory of a local golfer will continue to live on, as the tournament held in his honor helps high school students with scholarships.

The Viking Tournament will be held for the fourth time next month, as it remembers former Franklin resident and avid golfer Arnfinn Sveen. The tournament will be held Oct. 17-18 at Mill Creek Country Club.

Tournament director Joe Culpepper started the Viking Tournament in 2006 in memory of Sveen, who was from Norway.

"The tournament is a lot of work. But we think No. 1, the tournament honors Arfinn. He did a lot for the community, did a lot for golf and was just a true gentleman," Culpepper said. "No. 2, we think it’s a real valuable thing for the kids. So far to date we’ve given over $16,000 to the scholarship fund, and we hope to grow that a little more. "

The Arfinn Sveen Memorial Scholarship Fund donated three $1,500 scholarships to Franklin High School students last year, a $500 increase per scholarship from the previous year.

"We hope to grow that to three or four kids with $2-3,000 scholarships," Culpepper said. "We’re moving in that direction and we’ve had really good support from the local economy, despite the fact that the economy is tough and we’re a construction-based area."

The Arfinn Sveen Memorial Scholarship Fund is a 501(c) nonprofit, Culpepper said, so all donations and the entry fee should be tax deductible.

The entry fee is $160 per player. The format is two-person best ball, where both players play their own ball and record the lowest score on each hole.

The total cash payout will exceed $6,000 based on a full field. Winning teams in each flight will receive $700. Second place teams will receive $350, while third place gets $150.

The tournament will feature four to six flights.

There will be prizes for longest drive, closest to the pin on par 3s, a putting contest and a shootout. Golfers could also win $10,000 for a hole in one on either day on hole No. 6.

The entry deadline is Oct. 9. Culpepper encourages golfers to sign up early, as the field is limited to the first 50 paid teams.

For more information or to obtain an entry fee, visit vikingtournament.com. You can also contact Culpepper (524-6842) or Steve Leach (349-9220) for more details.