On Friday, May 25 clear skies, lots of sun and a light breeze greeted the 20 professionals and 76 amateurs as they teed it up for the 19th annual Slegg Lumber Pro-Am at Glacier Greens.
Once again Island junior golfers were the big winners, with close to $7,000 going to support the Slegg Lumber Junior Tour.
The tourney sees each team having a pro and four amateurs, with the best two net scores counting on each hole. The tournament is also a popular stop on the Vancouver Island Professional Tour. This year, local Canadian Tour player Riley Wheeldon was part of the field playing with his father and three other amateurs.
First place at –30 was last year’s winners Kevin Maxwell (Olympic View) and his team of Brian and Russ Hotsenpiller, Bruce Coulter and Bud Bryan. Second place at –29 went to Aaron Grice (Gorge Vale) and his team of Ron Bilodeau, Scott Wheeler, Dave Knowland and Chri Michaud. Three teams tied for third at –26: Cory Betz (Nanaimo), Gary Wood, Siobhan Walsh, Eirah Unger and Roy Hagg; Ross Mantell (Qualicum), Mike and Trent Berger, Andy and A.J. Clark; Rob Cruise (Hyland Pacific), Glenn Bell, Sean Russell, Blake Hamilton and Kevin Waiz.
On the pro side Cory Betz (Nanaimo) and Jason Andrew (Crown Isle) were tied at –1 (70) and after a one-hole playoff Betz was the tournament winner. Three pros were tied for third at 72: Dave Kuss (Morningstar), Aaron Grice (Gorge Vale) and Kevin Maxwell (Olympic View).
Four of the par threes had $10,000 hole-in-one prizes made available by Scott Fraser of Royal LePage, Western One Rentals and Sales, Robannah Developments Ltd. and Canadian Western Bank. Unfortunately that elusive ace was not to be found.
KP prizes were awarded by Slegg Lumber to Barry Norris, Russ Hotsenpiller, Comox Mayor Paul Ives, Gussy Prichard and Gary Wood. Oak Creek Golf and Turf Sales also donated KP pin prizes for the professionals. Winners were Dave Kuss x 2 (Morningstar), Cory Betz (Nanaimo), Ross Mantell (Qualicum) and Riley Wheeldon, who donated his prize back to junior golf.
"Special thanks to Ron and Bob Slegg and to the many tournament sponsors," said Len Doyle of Glacier Greens. "Thanks also to Gary Wood and Kelly Clausen from the local Slegg Lumber stores and to Glacier Greens head pro Bill Kelly, his staff and the tournaments hard working committee and volunteers."
– Glacier Greens Golf Course