Photo by Nick Henthorn From left, tournament director Dave Phillips, Colton McKivitz and Union Local football head coach Bernie Thompson, pictured at Belmont Hills Country Club during the second annual Colton McKivitz Golf Classic.

BELMONT — While he is most known for his work on the gridiron, Colton McKivitz spent much of Saturday on the greens.

After last year’s inaugural Colton McKivitz Golf Classic, the San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman, and Union Local alum, has officially made it a yearly event with Saturday’s second annual rendition of the golf scramble, which kicked off at Belmont Hills Country Club at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The fundraising 18-hole outing raised money for the Union Local Touchdown Club.

“I think one thing we’re called to do is to give back to our community,” McKivitz said Saturday. “When you are fortunate enough to be in a position that I’ve been able to work my way into, to be able to give back and have our second year of doing this golf tournament, it’s been awesome. It’s kind of a dream for me to give back to the community that’s helped me get to where I am. When you have a place like the Ohio Valley that gives back to their athletes that go on to be professionals and do great things, it’s a good feeling when you can come back and put on an event like this and raise money for Union Local and the Touchdown Club like we’re trying to do. So it’s a great feeling for me.”

Dave Phillips, the Tournament Director for this year’s Colton McKivitz Golf Classic, said proceeds are going towards improvements in the weight room at Union Local High School.

“This is our second year for the Colton McKivitz Golf Classic, and the nice thing about it is, you know, he gets very limited time off, so for him to take time out of his personal schedule, come out, support the Union Local football program, it speaks a lot to him and his character, you know, about giving back. That’s what he wants to do. You know, he’s playing at the highest level. He’s the only Union Local athlete to ever make it to the National Football League.

“For us, we want to make sure that we celebrate what he’s done. It’s been great to have him spend some of his time out here today.”

The field at Saturday’s event was 140-strong, a similar number to last year, and also included prizes for special events including longest drive, closest to the pin, and longest putt.

Phillips said the field of competitors was maxed-out both last year and this year.

After last year’s outing was a success, McKivitz felt even better about this year’s event.

“The fact that we’re already in year two, it shows you that time’s flying,” McKivitz said. “I know that’s one thing about being in the NFL, it goes quick, I’m already going into year seven. So I’m glad that we’re already in our second year and there’s a lot of momentum behind what we’re trying to do in raising money and getting the guys over at Union Local a new weight room.

“That’s kind of one of the big main purposes right now, what we’re raising the money for and getting them because that’s where all football programs start– and obviously school programs as well– is your strength room and getting bigger, faster, stronger. For me, it’s the most important place and that’s where we’re starting.”

The Jets have already made great strides from McKivitz’ memories at Union Local.

“We didn’t have a weight program my sophomore year,” McKivitz said. “When you go from not having a weight program to having a coach who’s weight room-forward with Coach Stiles, and now Bernie [Thompson], and Coach Stiles is back as the strength coach there. So we have coaches and adults who are like-minded that strength and speed is where games are won and lost.”

McKivitz has been able to spend time talking to Union Local athletes during his time back in his old stomping grounds.

“The biggest thing, at least part one for me, is telling these kids– don’t be afraid to fail. I think that’s one of the one things that I had to learn pretty quickly in the league, being cut in my second year, I failed. I was able to take that and learn from it, build off of it, and now be going into my fourth year starting. So, be all right with failing. Some of the best lessons are learned from failure. Be able to grow from that. And now coming back and being that role model, it’s definitely a surreal feeling.”

While imparting wisdom and raising money are great, McKivitz also appreciated working on his craft– with golf clubs, not football pads.

“It straightened up after nine,” McKivitz said of his golf swing. “Hit some nice putts. I always say that the summer ball is the best. You know, usually you go into a football season shooting mid-80s and then it’s back to 100 in February. But, it’s all good. It’s good to get a few rounds in, nice to get back on the golf course.”