COLUMBIA, Mo. — On Monday, June 13, golfers from around mid-Missouri will take a swing in support of local research efforts aimed at finding a cure for breast cancer.

The 11th annual Deon Starman Memorial Golf Tournament will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, June 13, at the Columbia Country Club. The tournament features two-person teams playing 18 holes of golf, with prizes awarded to winners in the men’s and women’s divisions.

The tournament is dedicated to the honor and memory of Deon Starman, who was an avid golfer and proponent for local breast cancer research. Starman died unexpectedly of a brain aneurysm in December 2004.

Deon’s husband Dave organizes the annual golf tournament to honor his wife of 16 years and support the two causes that Deon felt passionate about – golfing and finding a cure for breast cancer.

In 2010, the golf tournament raised $14,000 for breast cancer research at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. During the past decade, the tournament has raised $89,000 for local research.

“We are grateful for the decade of support from the Starmans,” said Kristi Gafford, executive director of Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. “Like the Starmans, all of us at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center share the same passion for one day finding a cure for breast cancer.”

The entry fee is $200 per team, which includes use of a golf cart and range balls. To register for the tournament please contact Dave Starman at (573) 808-3050.