When you go back and look at the history of Colin's Classic, there seems to be one resounding theme — LOVE. Colin Bodensteiner's love for his school, a parents' love for their child and the love of friends for a family coping with loss and looking for a way to honor a child who left them much too early.

Colin, a Friar in the Class of 2008, was a proud supporter not only of the Bishop Lynch High School, but everything that went along with being a member of the Friar Family.

"Colin loved Bishop Lynch … LOVED it," said Meg Bodensteiner, Colin's mother. "He loved his friends, loved the coaches and loved everything about it. He was very proud to be a Friar."

Colin was loved by his family, friends and the BL faculty. Following a varsity football game on Oct. 6, 2006, Colin was driving his truck home, but tragically died in an automobile accident just a few miles from home - an event that shook the Bodensteiner and BL families, collectively.

"We weren't sure what we were going to do as far as a fund after Colin's accident, but this tournament made sense," Meg said. "He loved Bishop Lynch and this is something we do for the school he loved, in his name."

The golf tournament bearing his name is preparing for its ninth event — the 9th Annual Colin's Classic — on Friday, May 6.

With the help of many individuals, Colin's Classic has become a largely successful event.

"Jim Urbanus and Kevin Whelan have been a great help to us since the first day, the same for Kevin and Amy Keane," Meg said. "Bill Wallander and Sally Canaan have been extraordinary. We've had a lot of great support from the Catholic community and many others who have helped make this a success."

That theme of love will spill onto the links at the Firewheel Bridges Course, where countless golfers will play with Colin in their heart for a cause the very fabric of the Bishop Lynch community — family.

Every cent of the proceeds from the tournament will go directly into the Colin Bodensteiner Memorial Scholarship Fund at Bishop Lynch High School, which to date has raised $482,000 and awarded 41 scholarships to deserving BL students.

The annual event has made a lasting impression not only on the scholarship recipients, but on the Bishop Lynch community as a whole. And despite the work it takes to make it possible, the Bodensteiner's benefit the most.

"Tom and I, as well as many others, put a lot of work into this each year," Meg said. "It's very near and dear to our hearts."

To register for the 9th Annual Colin's Classic, visit www.bishoplynch.org/colinsclassic.