Forty-three

students played through six hours of competition.

The competition

was open to all Coweta County students, from fourth through 12th grades.

It was the first year the tournament was open the high school students.

Students competed

in the six rounds of play to determine best overall players; Richard Booth

served as tournament director and kept pairings for the day.

Elementary

School winners included Wes Lutz (White Oak, first place), Matthew Bjornes

((Willis Road, second place), and Louis Mark (Jefferson Parkway, third

place).

Middle School

winners included Peter Lauzon (East Coweta, first place), John Moreland

(East Coweta , second place), Derek Jett (Arnall, third place), and Jacob

Rabun (East Coweta, fourth place).

The High School

winner was Mark Vinson (Landmark Christian).

Along with

director Booth, Smokey Road teacher Mitch Davis, Arnall teacher Bob Lutz,

Madras teacher Ron Mann and East Coweta parent Wayne Lauzon were among

the organizers of the event.

Bob Tumperi,

of the Newnan Rotary Club, has been a long-time supporter of chess in

schools and of the chess tournaments. "This was another great tournament.

Good competition and great sportsmanship," he said.

The sponsors

are trying to organize one more tournament this year, tentatively slated

for May 4 at Madras Middle School.