The 86th Ladies West Coast Golf Tournament got off to a sizzling start last Saturday. A dozen teams showed up for the Big Break competitions to see who would amass the largest number of points to be in the prizes.
Tournament organizers, Patsy Gauthier, Janice Cross and Suzanne Jones had their work cut out for them, and that was even before the actual tournament began.
Sunday morning was already sizzling by the time the golfers got onto the course to play their 18 holes, with the temperature reaching 35 by noon. Knowing it was going to be a scorcher the organizers provided small towels to be worn around the necks of the golfers with water supplied to give them the cooling effect…in spite of this, I wandered through the Club House while the golfers were draggling themselves in after their game nearly six hours later. Words such as “brutal”, “wasted”, “hot”, “burning” and “living dead” reached my ears but at the end of each description were the words “but we had fun” and that’s the important part!
An impressive prize table due to the amazing support of the local businesses of Port Alberni gave immediate relief to some of the players who rose to the top. New major sponsors: Dorothy Clarkstone, Royal Lepage, Tim Hortons, Alberni Auto Group and EM salon and Spa can take credit for that.
First place winners in the Low Gross category were Katy Macauley and Valerie Dingwall from Crown Isle tied with Mae Mitchell and Raelene Robertson also of Crown Isle. Macauley and Dingwall won by retrogression as the thought of going back out onto the course into the heat for a playoff was too much to bear.
Lucy Dever and Lesley Hazeldine from Pheasant Glen and Gabriola courses came in third. Judy Pouliot and Eveline Shaw from Crown Isle were in the prizes for fourth place.
In the Low Net category Barb Sheare and LaDonna Knutson jumped all over first place.
Anne Sands and Jan McFarlane of Crown Isle placed second while Janice Nicklin and Sue Leaky from Comox placed third.
Big Break winners for Sunday were Doneen Karch and Selma Cole from Crown Isle placing at the top. Lysbeth McCrone and Patricia Lowe from Sunnydale in Courtenay placing second and Janice Nicklin and Sue Leakey from Comox in third position.
Junior golfers raised money on #4…(if your ball landed on the green the contestants won a brand new ball). Money earned will be matched by the Scotia Bank.
Special thanks to Steve White and his greens crew for their extra help in marking grids and having the course in such excellent condition…considering the heat waves we’ve had. Those greens were FAST!
The teamwork of Gauthier, Cross and Jones along with their crew of volunteers and 36 sponsors made this 86th year one of the most successful ladies’ West Coast Amateur tournaments, ever.
