By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

ST. ROSE – After the weather forced its delay for a week, 2,500 golf balls rained down from the sky Saturday at the St. Rose Driving Range.

The event, the Golf Balls From Heaven fundraiser for Mother’s House of Change, got under way promptly at 2 p.m. as a helicopter hovered over the driving range and dropped three separate loads of bright pink, numbered balls.

The top prize up for grabs was $5,000 for the ball that landed nearest to the hole, and while two balls did land exactly in the hole, only about 1,000 of the balls were actually purchased, so no one walked away with the big prize Saturday.

Prizes were awarded for the 10 closest balls, but of those 10, only two had been purchased. Glen Bourgeois’s ball was seventh closest to the hole, and Reggie Bressett’s ball landed eighth closest to the hole. They each won $250.

The helicopter had to make three passes to get all the balls out because of high winds.

Radio station WTIX broadcast the festivities live from the driving range.

With the money raised from the event, Mother’s House of Change hopes to begin work on a halfway house for women in the River Parishes.

For more information on Mother’s House of Change, visit www.mothershouseofchange.org or call 504-628-6091.