KidsNGolf commemorate life of teenage member

KidsNGolf recognized one of its members who passed away Nov. 4 with a balloon release early Saturday morning. Approximately, 60 people came to remember him. The event was also to kick off the 10-Week Challenge tournament.

Ryan Burns, who has been placing in golf competitions since 2016, passed away Nov. 4 after an outdoor accident in El Dorado. Ryan, age 14, was a student at Barton Junior High.

This past June, Ryan won in that 14-to-18 boys division in the SouthArk Junior Golfer Tournament.

“After a week of community expressions of affection, admiration and grieving, this balloon release is an opportunity for so many of us who knew and loved Ryan to celebrate his wonderful life and the joy we feel when we think of him,” said Art Noyes, executive director of KidsNGolf.

Noyes also said that Ryan was an outstanding young golfer and athlete, but more importantly was a loved and respected young man in his school, church and community.

Along with the balloon release, KidsNGolf is setting up a scholarship program in Ryan’s name. The

scholarship is designed to send a boy and a girl each year to a week of advanced gold instruction. Ryan went to this kind of program over the summer where he was able to play with the college golf team and coaches at the University of Oklahoma. The goal is to help other students interested in golf to have the same kind of experience as Ryan.

Anyone wishing to contribute may do so at kidsngolf.org.

Michael Shine may be reached at 870-862-6611 or mshine@eldoradonews.com. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook @MichaelAZShine for updates on Union County school news.

Photo by Terrance Armstard/News-Times Release: Friends, family and colleagues gather to remember Ryan Burns at El Dorado Golf and Country Club on Saturday. Burns was a member of the KidsNGolf organization. Balloons were released in memory of Burns who died earlier this month.

Contributed photo In Honor: Ryan Burns, who passed away Nov. 4, visited the University of Oklahoma over the summer to spend time with the school's golf team and coaches. KidsNGolf created a scholarhip in honor of Ryan to send a boy and a girl to similar camps in the coming years.