SPORTS

'Lutz's Legacy' honored at Auburn FCA golf outing

James Crepea
Montgomery Advertiser

AUBURN – Golf wasn't exactly Philip Lutzenkirchen's strongest game, though he thoroughly enjoyed it.

The former Auburn tight end played several rounds with ex-Tigers linebacker Will Herring over the last couple of years.

"We hung out more in the woods than probably on the fairway," Herring said. "Neither one of us could play golf but we had a good time doing it."

Lutzenkirchen's love of the game, whether it was golf or football, and his love of life and people was on display Thursday morning as a gathering of roughly 60 family members, friends, teammates and members of the Auburn community took part in a golf outing honoring Lutz's Legacy at the Auburn University Club.

The golf outing was part of a full day of events put on by the Auburn Fellowship of Christian Athletes, an organization Lutzenkirchen, who was killed in an auto accident on June 29, was involved with dating back to his days at Lassiter High School.

Philip's parents, Mike and Mary, and sisters Amy, Abby, and Ann, who played in the event, were all in attendance. Mike Lutzenkirchen, who took his son's place as the emcee at the Auburn FCA 50th anniversary banquet Thursday night, thanked those who came out in support of their family.

"The last call he had with me was the Friday night before he passed. I wish I could share the tone in his voice of how excited he was," Mike Lutzenkirchen said. "This is another hurdle our family is going through. Each day gets a little bit easier but this turnout is just amazing."

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn showed up for the shotgun start, former teammate Jorrell Bostrom, currently Auburn's director of player development and women's golf coach Kim Evans all came out to support the event and the Lutzenkirchen family. Former Auburn safety Trent Fisher and current players Reese Dismukes and Mack VanGorder played in the outing, which was put together in large part by Mike Lutzenkirchen and Herring in less than two weeks.

"Once we heard about it we wanted to help every way we could," Evans said. "One for FCA, and two for Philip's family, who I've had the pleasure of knowing a long time.

"We wanted them to know that we really appreciate what Philip brought to our Auburn Family. … We hope they come back and do it every year."